Substituted pyridines as sodium channel blockers

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to substituted pyridine and pyrimidine compounds of Formula (I) and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts, prodrugs, and solvates thereof, wherein R 1 , R 2a , R 2b , A 1 , A 2 , X, and Z are defined as set forth in the specification. The invention is also directed to the use of compounds of Formula (I) to treat a disorder responsive to the blockade of sodium channels. Compounds of the present invention are especially useful for treating pain.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuing application of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/384,534, filed on Sep. 11, 2014, now allowed, which is the U.S. national phase, pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §371, of PCT International Application Ser. No. PCT/IB2013/000423, filed Mar. 15, 2013, designating the United States and published in English on Sep. 19, 2013 as publication WO 2013/136170 A1, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/611,815, filed Mar. 16, 2012. The contents of the afore-mentioned patent applications are incorporated herein by their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

This invention is in the field of medicinal chemistry. The invention relates to novel pyridine and pyrimidine compounds and the use of these compounds as blockers of voltage-gated sodium (Na⁺) channels.

Background Art

Voltage-gated sodium channels (VGSCs) are found in all excitable cells. In neuronal cells of the central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS) sodium channels are primarily responsible for generating the rapid upstroke of the action potential. In this manner sodium channels are essential to the initiation and propagation of electrical signals in the nervous system. Proper function of sodium channels is therefore necessary for normal function of the neuron. Consequently, aberrant sodium channel function is thought to underlie a variety of medical disorders (See Hubner et al., Hum. Mol. Genet. 11:2435-2445 (2002) for a general review of inherited ion channel disorders) including epilepsy (Yogeeswari et al, Curr. Drug Target 5:589-602 (2004)), arrhythmia (Noble, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 99:5755-5756 (2002)), myotonia (Cannon, Kidney Int. 57:772-779 (2000)), and pain (Wood et al., J. Neurobiol., 61:55-71 (2004)). VGSCs are composed of one α-subunit, which forms the core of the channel and is responsible for voltage-dependent gating and ion permeation, and several auxiliary β-subunits (see, e.g., Chahine et al., CNS & Neurological Disorders—Drug Targets 7:144-158 (2008) and Kyle and Ilyin, J. Med. Chem. 50:2583-2588 (2007)). α-Subunits are large proteins composed of four homologous domains. Each domain contains six α-helical transmembrane spanning segments. There are currently nine known members of the family of voltage-gated sodium channel α-subunits. Names for this family include SCNx, SCNAx, and Na_(v)x.x (see Table 1, below). The VGSC family has been phylogenetically divided into two subfamilies Na_(v)1.x (all but SCN6A) and Na_(v)2.x (SCN6A). The Na_(v)1.x subfamily can be functionally subdivided into two groups, those which are sensitive to blocking by tetrodotoxin (TTX-sensitive or TTX-s) and those which are resistant to blocking by tetrodotoxin (TTX-resistant or TTX-r).

There are three members of the subgroup of TTX-resistant sodium channels. The SCN5A gene product (Na_(v)1.5, H1) is almost exclusively expressed in cardiac tissue and has been shown to underlie a variety of cardiac arrhythmias and other conduction disorders (Liu et al., Am. J. Pharmacogenomics 3:173-179 (2003)). Consequently, blockers of Na_(v)1.5 have found clinical utility in treatment of such disorders (Srivatsa et al., Curr. Cardiol. Rep. 4:401-410 (2002)). The remaining TTX-resistant sodium channels, Na_(v)1.8 (SCN10A, PN3, SNS) and Na_(v)1.9 (SCN11A, NaN, SNS2) are expressed in the peripheral nervous system and show preferential expression in primary nociceptive neurons. Human genetic variants of these channels have not been associated with any inherited clinical disorder. However, aberrant expression of Na_(v)1.8 has been found in the CNS of human multiple sclerosis (MS) patients and also in a rodent model of MS (Black et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 97:11598-115602 (2000)). Evidence for involvement in nociception is both associative (preferential expression in nociceptive neurons) and direct (genetic knockout). Na_(v)1.8-null mice exhibited typical nociceptive behavior in response to acute noxious stimulation but had significant deficits in referred pain and hyperalgesia (Laird et al., J. Neurosci. 22:8352-8356 (2002)).

TABLE 1 Voltage-gated sodium channel gene family TTX Tissue IC₅₀ Disease Type Gene Symbol Distribution (nM) Association Indications Na_(v)1.1 SCN1A CNS/PNS 10 Epilepsy Pain, seizures, neurodegeneration Na_(v)1.2 SCN2A CNS 10 Epilepsy Epilepsy, neurodegeneration Na_(v)1.3 SCN3A CNS 15 — Pain Na_(v)1.4 SCN4A Skeletal 25 Myotonia Myotonia muscle Na_(v)1.5 SCN5A Heart muscle 2,000 Arrhythmia Arrhythmia Na_(v)1.6 SCN8A CNS/PNS 6 — Pain, movement disorders Na_(v)1.7 SCN9A PNS 25 Erythermalgia Pain Na_(v)1.8 SCN10A PNS 50,000 — Pain Na_(v)1.9 SCN11A PNS 1,000 — Pain

The Na_(v)1.7 (PN1, SCN9A) VGSC is sensitive to blocking by tetrodotoxin and is preferentially expressed in peripheral sympathetic and sensory neurons. The SCN9A gene has been cloned from a number of species, including human, rat, and rabbit and shows ˜90% amino acid identity between the human and rat genes (Toledo-Aral et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 94:1527-1532 (1997)).

An increasing body of evidence suggests that Na_(v)1.7 plays a key role in various pain states, including acute, inflammatory and/or neuropathic pain. Deletion of the SCN9A gene in nociceptive neurons of mice led to an increase in mechanical and thermal pain thresholds and reduction or abolition of inflammatory pain responses (Nassar et al., Proc Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 101:12706-12711 (2004)).

Sodium channel-blocking agents have been reported to be effective in the treatment of various disease states, and have found particular use as local anesthetics, e.g., lidocaine and bupivacaine, and in the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias, e.g., propafenone and amiodarone, and epilepsy, e.g., lamotrigine, phenytoin and carbamazepine (see Clare et al., Drug Discovery Today 5:506-510 (2000); Lai et al., Annu. Rev. Pharmacol. Toxicol. 44:371-397 (2004); Anger et al., J. Med. Chem. 44:115-137 (2001), and Catterall, Trends Pharmacol. Sci. 8:57-65 (1987)). Each of these agents is believed to act by interfering with the rapid influx of sodium ions.

Other sodium channel blockers such as BW619C89 and lifarizine have been shown to be neuroprotective in animal models of global and focal ischemia (Graham et al., J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 269:854-859 (1994); Brown et al., British J. Pharmacol. 115:1425-1432 (1995)).

It has also been reported that sodium channel-blocking agents can be useful in the treatment of pain, including acute, chronic, inflammatory, neuropathic, and other types of pain such as rectal, ocular, and submandibular pain typically associated with paroxysmal extreme pain disorder; see, for example, Kyle and Ilyin., J. Med. Chem. 50:2583-2588 (2007); Wood et al., J. Neurobiol. 61:55-71 (2004); Baker et al., TRENDS in Pharmacological Sciences 22:27-31 (2001); and Lai et al., Current Opinion in Neurobiology 13:291-297 (2003); the treatment of neurological disorders such as epilepsy, seizures, epilepsy with febrile seizures, epilepsy with benign familial neonatal infantile seizures, inherited pain disorders, e.g., primary erthermalgia and paroxysmal extreme pain disorder, familial hemiplegic migraine, and movement disorder; and the treatment of other psychiatric disorders such as autism, cerebellar atrophy, ataxia, and mental retardation; see, for example, Chahine et al., CNS & Neurological Disorders—Drug Targets 7:144-158 (2008) and Meisler and Kearney, J. Clin. Invest. 115:2010-2017 (2005). In addition to the above-mentioned clinical uses, carbamazepine, lidocaine and phenytoin are used to treat neuropathic pain, such as from trigeminal neuralgia, diabetic neuropathy and other forms of nerve damage (Taylor and Meldrum, Trends Pharmacol. Sci. 16:309-316 (1995)). Furthermore, based on a number of similarities between chronic pain and tinnitus, (Moller, Am. J. Otol. 18:577-585 (1997); Tonndorf, Hear. Res. 28:271-275 (1987)) it has been proposed that tinnitus should be viewed as a form of chronic pain sensation (Simpson, et al., Tip. 20:12-18 (1999)). Indeed, lidocaine and carbamazepine have been shown to be efficacious in treating tinnitus (Majumdar, B. et al., Clin. Otolaryngol. 8:175-180 (1983); Donaldson, Laryngol. Otol 95:947-951 (1981)).

Many patients with either acute or chronic pain disorders respond poorly to current pain therapies, and the development of resistance or insensitivity to opiates is common. In addition, many of the currently available treatments have undesirable side effects.

In view of the limited efficacy and/or unacceptable side-effects of the currently available agents, there is a pressing need for more effective and safer analgesics that work by blocking sodium channels.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is related to the use of substituted pyridine and pyrimidine compounds represented by Formulae I-V, below, and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts, prodrugs and solvates thereof (collectively referred to herein as “Compounds of the Invention”), as blockers of sodium (Na⁺) channels.

The present invention is also related to treating a disorder responsive to the blockade of sodium channels in a mammal suffering from excess activity of said channels by administering an effective amount of a Compound of the Invention as described herein.

Some compounds useful in the present invention have not been heretofore reported. Thus, one aspect of the present invention is directed to novel compounds of Formulae I-V, as well as their pharmaceutically acceptable salts, prodrugs and solvates.

Another aspect of the present invention is directed to the use of the novel compounds of Formulae I-V, and their pharmaceutically acceptable salts, prodrugs and solvates, as blockers of sodium channels.

A further aspect of the present invention is to provide a method for treating pain (e.g., acute pain, chronic pain, which includes but is not limited to, neuropathic pain, postoperative pain, and inflammatory pain, or surgical pain) by administering an effective amount of a Compound of the Invention to a mammal in need of such treatment. Specifically, the present invention provides a method for preemptive or palliative treatment of pain by administering an effective amount of a Compound of the Invention to a mammal in need of such treatment.

A further aspect of the present invention is to provide a method for treating stroke, neuronal damage resulting from head trauma, epilepsy, seizures, general epilepsy with febrile seizures, severe myoclonic epilepsy in infancy, neuronal loss following global and focal ischemia, migraine, familial primary erythromelalgia, paroxysmal extreme pain disorder, cerebellar atrophy, ataxia, dystonia, tremor, mental retardation, autism, a neurodegenerative disorder (e.g., Alzheimer's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or Parkinson's disease), manic depression, tinnitus, myotonia, a movement disorder, or cardiac arrhythmia, or providing local anesthesia, by administering an effective amount of a Compound of the Invention to a mammal in need of such treatment.

A further aspect of the present invention is to provide a pharmaceutical composition useful for treating a disorder responsive to the blockade of sodium ion channels, said pharmaceutical composition containing an effective amount of a Compound of the Invention in a mixture with one or more pharmaceutically acceptable carriers.

Also, an aspect of the present invention is to provide a method of modulating sodium channels in a mammal, wherein said method comprises administering to the mammal an effective amount of at least one Compound of the Invention.

A further aspect of the present invention is to provide a Compound of the Invention for use in treating pain in a mammal, e.g., acute pain, chronic pain, which includes but is not limited to, neuropathic pain, postoperative pain, and inflammatory pain, or surgical pain.

A further aspect of the present invention is to provide a Compound of the Invention for use in treating stroke, neuronal damage resulting from head trauma, epilepsy, seizures, general epilepsy with febrile seizures, severe myoclonic epilepsy in infancy, neuronal loss following global and focal ischemia, migraine, familial primary erythromelalgia, paroxysmal extreme pain disorder, cerebellar atrophy, ataxia, dystonia, tremor, mental retardation, autism, a neurodegenerative disorder (e.g., Alzheimer's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or Parkinson's disease), manic depression, tinnitus, myotonia, a movement disorder, or cardiac arrhythmia, or providing local anesthesia, in a mammal.

A further aspect of the present invention is to provide radiolabeled Compounds of the Invention and the use of such compounds as radioligands in any appropriately selected competitive binding assays and screening methodologies. Thus, the present invention further provides a method for screening a candidate compound for its ability to bind to a sodium channel or sodium channel subunit using a radiolabeled Compound of the Invention. In certain embodiments, the compound is radiolabeled with ³H, ¹¹C, or ¹⁴C. This competitive binding assay can be conducted using any appropriately selected methodology. In one embodiment, the screening method comprises: i) introducing a fixed concentration of the radiolabeled compound to an in vitro preparation comprising a soluble or membrane-associated sodium channel, subunit or fragment under conditions that permit the radiolabeled compound to bind to the channel, subunit or fragment, respectively, to form a conjugate; ii) titrating the conjugate with a candidate compound; and iii) determining the ability of the candidate compound to displace the radiolabeled compound from said channel, subunit or fragment.

A further aspect of the present invention is to provide the use of a Compound of the Invention in the manufacture of a medicament for treating pain in a mammal. In one embodiment, the invention provides the use of a Compound of the Invention in the manufacture of a medicament for palliative or preemptive treatment of pain, such as acute pain, chronic pain, or surgical pain.

A further aspect of the present invention is to provide the use of a Compound of the Invention in the manufacture of a medicament for treating stroke, neuronal damage resulting from head trauma, epilepsy, seizures, general epilepsy with febrile seizures, severe myoclonic epilepsy in infancy, neuronal loss following global and focal ischemia, migraine, familial primary erythromelalgia, paroxysmal extreme pain disorder, cerebellar atrophy, ataxia, dystonia, tremor, mental retardation, autism, a neurodegenerative disorder (e.g., Alzheimer's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or Parkinson's disease), manic depression, tinnitus, myotonia, a movement disorder, or cardiac arrhythmia, or providing local anesthesia, in a mammal.

Additional embodiments and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description that follows, and will flow from the description, or can be learned by practice of the invention. The embodiments and advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing summary and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention as claimed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

One aspect of the present invention is based on the use of compounds of Formula I, and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts, prodrugs and solvates thereof, as blockers of Na⁺ channels. In view of this property, compounds of Formula I, and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts, prodrugs and solvates thereof, are useful for treating disorders responsive to the blockade of sodium ion channels.

In one embodiment, compounds useful in this aspect of the invention are compounds represented by Formula I:

wherein: A¹ is selected from the group consisting of optionally substituted C₄₋₈ cycloalkyl; optionally substituted 4- to 8-membered heterocyclo, optionally substituted phenyl, and optionally substituted 5- or 6-membered heteroaryl; X is selected from the group consisting of —O—, —S—, —SO—, —SO₂—, and —(CR^(2d)R^(2e))_(m)—; each R^(2e) and R^(2d), which can be identical or different, are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halo, and optionally substituted alkyl; or each R^(2e) and R^(2d) taken together with the carbon atom to which they are attached form a 3- to 8-membered optionally substituted cycloalkyl or optionally substituted heterocyclo; m is 1, 2, or 3; and A² is selected from the group consisting of optionally substituted C₄₋₈ cycloalkyl, optionally substituted C₄₋₈ cycloalkenyl, optionally substituted phenyl, optionally substituted 4- to 12-membered heterocyclo, and optionally substituted 5- or 6-membered heteroaryl; Z is selected from the group consisting of N and CR^(2c); R¹ is selected from the group consisting of:

R^(2a), R^(2b), and R^(2c), which can be identical or different, are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halo, nitro, cyano, hydroxy, amino, alkylamino, dialkylamino, haloalkyl, monohydroxyalkyl, dihydroxyalkyl, alkoxy, haloalkoxy, aryloxy, aralkyloxy, alkylthio, carboxamido, sulfonamido, alkylcarbonyl, arylcarbonyl, alkylsulfonyl, arylsulfonyl, ureido, guanidino, carboxy, carboxyalkyl, optionally substituted alkyl, (amino)alkyl, and (diamino)alkyl; and R³ is dihydroxyalkyl; R⁴ is selected from the group consisting of —NR^(6a)R^(6b) and —OR⁷; R^(6a) and R^(6b) are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, alkylsulfonyl, alkylsulfinyl, alkylcarbonyl, alkoxycarbonyl, monohydroxyalkyl, dihydroxyalkyl, alkoxyalkyl, haloalkyl, haloalkoxyalkyl, aminoalkyl, alkylaminoalkyl, dialkylaminoalkyl, hydroxy, haloalkylcarbonyl, and optionally substituted arylcarbonyl; or R^(6a) and R^(6b) taken together with the carbon atom to which they are attached form a 3- to 8-membered optionally substituted heterocyclo; R⁷ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, monohydroxyalkyl, dihydroxyalkyl, alkoxyalkyl, haloalkyl, haloalkoxyalkyl, aminoalkyl, alkylaminoalkyl, and dialkylaminoalkyl; and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates, and prodrugs thereof.

In another embodiment, Compounds of the Invention are compounds having Formula II:

and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates, and prodrugs thereof, wherein R^(2a), R^(2b), R³, A¹, A², X, and Z are as defined above in connection with Formula I.

In another embodiment, Compounds of the Invention are compounds having Formula III:

and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates, and prodrugs thereof, wherein R^(2a), R^(2b), R⁴, A¹, A², X, and Z are as defined above in connection with Formula I.

In another embodiment, Compounds of the Invention are compounds having Formula IV:

and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates, and prodrugs thereof, wherein R^(2a), R^(2b), R⁴, A¹, A², X, and Z are as defined above in connection with Formula I.

In another embodiment, Compounds of the Invention are compounds having Formula V:

and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates, and prodrugs thereof, wherein R^(2a), R^(2b), R⁴, A¹, A², X, and Z are as defined above in connection with Formula I.

In another embodiment, Compounds of the Invention are compounds having Formula II, wherein R^(2a), R^(2b), and R^(2c), which can be identical or different, are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halo, nitro, cyano, hydroxy, amino, alkylamino, dialkylamino, haloalkyl, monohydroxyalkyl, dihydroxyalkyl, alkoxy, haloalkoxy, aryloxy, aralkyloxy, alkylthio, sulfonamido, alkylcarbonyl, arylcarbonyl, alkylsulfonyl, arylsulfonyl, ureido, guanidino, carboxy, carboxyalkyl, optionally substituted alkyl, (amino)alkyl, and (diamino)alkyl.

In another embodiment, Compounds of the Invention are compounds having Formula II, wherein R³ a C₂₋₄ dihydroxyalkyl, and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates, and prodrugs thereof.

In another embodiment, Compounds of the Invention are compounds having Formula II, wherein R³ is selected from the group consisting of:

and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates, and prodrugs thereof.

In another embodiment, Compounds of the Invention are compounds having Formula II, wherein R³ is selected from the group consisting of:

and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates, and prodrugs thereof. In another embodiment, Compounds of the Invention are compounds having any of Formulae III-V, wherein R⁴ is —NR^(6a)R^(6b), and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates, and prodrugs thereof.

In another embodiment, Compounds of the Invention are compounds having any of Formulae III-V, wherein R⁴ is —NR^(6a)R^(6b) and R^(6a) and R^(6b) are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and alkyl, and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates, and prodrugs thereof.

In another embodiment, Compounds of the Invention are compounds having any of Formulae III-V, wherein R⁴ is —NH₂, and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates, and prodrugs thereof.

In another embodiment, Compounds of the Invention are compounds having any of Formulae III-V, wherein R⁴ is —OR⁷, and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates, and prodrugs thereof.

In another embodiment, Compounds of the Invention are compounds having any of Formulae III-V, wherein R⁴ is —OR⁷ and R⁷ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and alkyl, and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates, and prodrugs thereof.

In another embodiment, Compounds of the Invention are compounds having any of Formulae III-V, wherein R⁷ is selected from the group consisting of —OH, —OMe, —OEt, and —OtBu, and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates, and prodrugs thereof.

In another embodiment, Compounds of the Invention are compounds having any of Formulae I-V wherein X is —O—, and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates, and prodrugs thereof.

In another embodiment, Compounds of the Invention are compounds having any of Formulae I-V wherein X is —S—, and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates, and prodrugs thereof.

In another embodiment, Compounds of the Invention are compounds having any of Formulae I-V wherein X is —SO—, and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates, and prodrugs thereof.

In another embodiment, Compounds of the Invention are compounds having any of Formulae I-V wherein X is —SO₂—, and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates, and prodrugs thereof.

In another embodiment, Compounds of the Invention are compounds having any of Formulae I-V wherein X is —(CR^(2d)R^(2e))_(m)—, and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates, and prodrugs thereof. In another embodiment, m is 1.

In another embodiment, R^(2d) and R^(2e) are both hydrogen.

In another embodiment, Compounds of the Invention are compounds having any of Formulae I-V wherein A² is optionally substituted phenyl, and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates, and prodrugs thereof.

In another embodiment, Compounds of the Invention are compounds having any of Formulae I-V wherein A² is optionally substituted C₄₋₈ cycloalkyl, and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates, and prodrugs thereof.

In another embodiment, Compounds of the Invention are compounds having any of Formulae I-V wherein A² is optionally substituted 5- or 6-membered heteroaryl, and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates, and prodrugs thereof.

In another embodiment, Compounds of the Invention are compounds having any of Formulae I-V wherein A¹ is selected from the group consisting of optionally substituted phenyl and optionally substituted 5- or 6-membered heteroaryl, X is —O—, and A² is optionally substituted phenyl, and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates, and prodrugs thereof.

In another embodiment, Compounds of the Invention are compounds having any of Formulae I-V wherein A¹ selected from the group consisting of optionally substituted cyclobutyl, optionally substituted cyclopentyl, optionally substituted cyclohexyl, optionally substituted cycloheptyl, optionally substituted phenyl, optionally substituted 2-pyridyl (i.e., pyridin-2-yl), optionally substituted 3-pyridyl (i.e., pyridin-3-yl), and optionally substituted 4-pyridyl (i.e., pyridin-4-yl), and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates, and prodrugs thereof.

In another embodiment, Compounds of the Invention are compounds having any of Formulae I-V wherein A¹ selected from the group consisting of optionally substituted phenyl, optionally substituted 2-pyridyl (i.e., pyridin-2-yl), optionally substituted 3-pyridyl (i.e., pyridin-3-yl), and optionally substituted 4-pyridyl (i.e., pyridin-4-yl), and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates, and prodrugs thereof.

In another embodiment, Compounds of the Invention are compounds having any of Formulae I-V wherein the optional substituents of the A¹ group are selected from the group consisting of halo, cyano, haloalkyl, and C₁₋₄ alkyl, and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates, and prodrugs thereof.

In another embodiment, Compounds of the Invention are compounds having any one of Formulae I-V, wherein A¹-X-A²- is selected from the group consisting of:

wherein:

R^(8a), R^(8b), R^(8c), R^(8d), and R^(8e), which can be identical or different, are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halo, nitro, cyano, hydroxy, amino, alkylamino, dialkylamino, haloalkyl, monohydroxyalkyl, dihydroxyalkyl, alkoxy, haloalkoxy, aryloxy, aralkyloxy, alkylthio, carboxamido, sulfonamido, alkylcarbonyl, arylcarbonyl, alkylsulfonyl, arylsulfonyl, ureido, guanidino, carboxy, carboxyalkyl, alkyl, optionally substituted cycloalkyl, optionally substituted alkenyl, optionally substituted alkynyl, optionally substituted aryl, optionally substituted heteroaryl, and optionally substituted heterocyclo, or

R^(8a) and R^(8b), or R^(8b) and R^(8c), or R^(8c) and R^(8d), or R^(8d) and R^(8e), taken together with the carbon atoms to which they are attached form a 5- or 6-membered optionally substituted cycloalkyl or heterocyclo group;

R^(8f), R^(8g), and R^(8h), which can be identical or different, are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halo, nitro, cyano, hydroxy, amino, alkylamino, dialkylamino, haloalkyl, monohydroxyalkyl, dihydroxyalkyl, alkoxy, haloalkoxy, aryloxy, aralkyloxy, alkylthio, carboxamido, sulfonamido, alkylcarbonyl, arylcarbonyl, alkylsulfonyl, arylsulfonyl, ureido, guanidino, carboxy, carboxyalkyl, alkyl, optionally substituted cycloalkyl, optionally substituted alkenyl, optionally substituted alkynyl, optionally substituted aryl, optionally substituted heteroaryl, and optionally substituted heterocyclo, or

R^(8f) and R^(8g) taken together with the carbon atoms to which they are attached form a 5- or 6-membered optionally substituted cycloalkyl or heterocyclo group;

p is 0, 1, 2, or 3; and

q is 1 or 2, and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates, and prodrugs thereof.

In another embodiment, Compounds of the Invention are compounds having any of Formulae I-V wherein A¹-X-A²- is:

wherein:

R^(8a), R^(8b), R^(8c), R^(8d), and R^(8e), which can be identical or different, are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halo, nitro, cyano, hydroxy, amino, alkylamino, dialkylamino, haloalkyl, monohydroxyalkyl, dihydroxyalkyl, alkoxy, haloalkoxy, aryloxy, aralkyloxy, alkylthio, carboxamido, sulfonamido, alkylcarbonyl, arylcarbonyl, alkylsulfonyl, arylsulfonyl, ureido, guanidino, carboxy, carboxyalkyl, alkyl, optionally substituted cycloalkyl, optionally substituted alkenyl, optionally substituted alkynyl, optionally substituted aryl, optionally substituted heteroaryl, and optionally substituted heterocyclo; or

R^(8a) and R^(8b), or R^(8b) and R^(8c), or R^(8c) and R^(8d), or R^(8d) and R^(8e), taken together with the carbon atoms to which they are attached form a 5- or 6-membered optionally substituted cycloalkyl or heterocyclo group, and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates, and prodrugs thereof.

In another embodiment, Compounds of the Invention are compounds having any of Formulae I-V wherein A¹-X-A²- is:

wherein: R^(8f), R^(8g), and R^(8h), which can be identical or different, are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halo, nitro, cyano, hydroxy, amino, alkylamino, dialkylamino, haloalkyl, monohydroxyalkyl, dihydroxyalkyl, alkoxy, haloalkoxy, aryloxy, aralkyloxy, alkylthio, carboxamido, sulfonamido, alkylcarbonyl, arylcarbonyl, alkylsulfonyl, arylsulfonyl, ureido, guanidino, carboxy, carboxyalkyl, alkyl, optionally substituted cycloalkyl, optionally substituted alkenyl, optionally substituted alkynyl, optionally substituted aryl, optionally substituted heteroaryl, and optionally substituted heterocyclo, or R^(8f) and R^(8g) taken together with the carbon atoms to which they are attached form a 5- or 6-membered optionally substituted cycloalkyl or heterocyclo group, and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates, and prodrugs thereof.

In another embodiment, Compounds of the Invention are compounds having any of Formulae I-V wherein A¹-X-A²- is:

wherein: R^(8f), R^(8g), and R^(8h), which can be identical or different, are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halo, nitro, cyano, hydroxy, amino, alkylamino, dialkylamino, haloalkyl, monohydroxyalkyl, dihydroxyalkyl, alkoxy, haloalkoxy, aryloxy, aralkyloxy, alkylthio, carboxamido, sulfonamido, alkylcarbonyl, arylcarbonyl, alkylsulfonyl, arylsulfonyl, ureido, guanidino, carboxy, carboxyalkyl, alkyl, optionally substituted cycloalkyl, optionally substituted alkenyl, optionally substituted alkynyl, optionally substituted aryl, optionally substituted heteroaryl, and optionally substituted heterocyclo, or R^(8f) and R^(8g) taken together with the carbon atoms to which they are attached form a 5- or 6-membered optionally substituted cycloalkyl or heterocyclo group, and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates, and prodrugs thereof.

In another embodiment, Compounds of the Invention are compounds having any of Formulae I-V wherein A¹-X-A²- is:

wherein: R^(8f), R^(8g), and R^(8h), which can be identical or different, are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halo, nitro, cyano, hydroxy, amino, alkylamino, dialkylamino, haloalkyl, monohydroxyalkyl, dihydroxyalkyl, alkoxy, haloalkoxy, aryloxy, aralkyloxy, alkylthio, carboxamido, sulfonamido, alkylcarbonyl, arylcarbonyl, alkylsulfonyl, arylsulfonyl, ureido, guanidino, carboxy, carboxyalkyl, alkyl, optionally substituted cycloalkyl, optionally substituted alkenyl, optionally substituted alkynyl, optionally substituted aryl, optionally substituted heteroaryl, and optionally substituted heterocyclo, or R^(8f) and R^(8g) taken together with the carbon atoms to which they are attached form a 5- or 6-membered optionally substituted cycloalkyl or heterocyclo group, and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates, and prodrugs thereof.

In another embodiment, Compounds of the Invention are compounds having any of Formulae I-V wherein R^(8a), R^(8b), R^(8c), R^(8d), and R^(8e), which can be identical or different, are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halo, cyano, haloalkyl, and C₁₋₄ alkyl, and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates, and prodrugs thereof. In another embodiment, one or two of R^(8a), R^(8b), R^(8c), R^(8d), and R^(8e) are halo, e.g., fluoro or chloro, or haloalkyl, e.g., trifluoromethyl, and the others are hydrogen. In another embodiment, R^(8s) is halo or haloalkyl.

In another embodiment, Compounds of the Invention are compounds having any of Formulae I-V, wherein Z is N, and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates, and prodrugs thereof.

In another embodiment, Compounds of the Invention are compounds having any of Formulae I-V, wherein Z is CR^(2c), and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates, and prodrugs thereof.

In another embodiment, Compounds of the Invention are compounds having any of Formulae I-V, wherein Z is CR^(2c) and R^(2c) is hydrogen, and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates, and prodrugs thereof.

In another embodiment, Compounds of the Invention are compounds having any of Formulae I-V, wherein R^(2a) and R^(2b) are hydrogen, and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates, and prodrugs thereof.

In another embodiment, Compounds of the Invention are compounds having any of Formulae I-V, wherein R^(2a) and R^(2b) are hydrogen, and Z is CH, and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates, and prodrugs thereof.

In another embodiment, Compounds of the Invention include the compound examples of TABLE 2, and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts, prodrugs, and solvates thereof. The chemical names of the compound examples are provided in TABLE 3.

TABLE 2 Compound Example No. Structure 1

2

3

4

5

6

TABLE 3 Compound Example No. Chemical Name 1 (R)-1-(6-(4-(4-fluorophenoxy)phenyl)pyridin-2-yl)-2,3- dihydroxypropan-1-one 2 (R)-4-(4-(6-(2,3-dihydroxypropanoyl)pyridin-2- yl)phenoxy)-2-(trifluoromethyl)benzonitrile 3 (R)-5-(4-(6-(2,3-dihydroxypropanoyl)pyridin-2- yl)phenoxy)-2-(trifluoromethyl)benzonitrile 4 (R)-2,3-dihydroxy-1-(6-(4-(4- (trifluoromethyl)phenoxy)phenyl) pyridin-2-yl)propan-1- one 5 (R)-4-(4-(6-(2,3-dihydroxypropanoyl)pyridin-2- yl)phenoxy)benzonitrile 6 2-(6-(4-(3-cyano-4- (trifluoromethyl)phenoxy)phenyl)pyridin-2-yl)-2- hydroxyacetamide

In another embodiment, Compounds of the Invention include the following compounds:

and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts, prodrugs, and solvates thereof.

In another embodiment, Compounds of the Invention include the following compounds:

and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts, prodrugs, and solvates thereof.

In another embodiment, Compounds of the Invention include the following compounds:

and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts, prodrugs, and solvates thereof.

In another embodiment, Compounds of the Invention include the following compounds:

and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts, prodrugs, and solvates thereof.

In another embodiment, Compounds of the Invention include the following compounds:

and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts, prodrugs, and solvates thereof.

In another embodiment, Compounds of the Invention include the following compounds:

and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts, prodrugs, and solvates thereof.

In another embodiment, Compounds of the Invention include the following compounds:

and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts, prodrugs, and solvates thereof.

For the purpose of the present disclosure, the term “alkyl” as used by itself or as part of another group refers to a straight- or branched-chain aliphatic hydrocarbon containing one to twelve (i.e. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, or 12) carbon atoms (i.e., C₁₋₁₂ alkyl) or the number of carbon atoms designated (i.e., a C₁ alkyl such as methyl, a C₂ alkyl such as ethyl, a C₃ alkyl such as propyl or isopropyl, etc.). In one embodiment, the alkyl group is chosen from a straight chain C₁₋₁₀ alkyl group. In another embodiment, the alkyl group is chosen from a branched chain C₁₋₁₀ alkyl group. In another embodiment, the alkyl group is chosen from a straight chain C₁₋₆ alkyl group. In another embodiment, the alkyl group is chosen from a branched chain C₃₋₆ alkyl group. In another embodiment, the alkyl group is chosen from a straight chain C₁₋₄ alkyl group. In another embodiment, the alkyl group is chosen from a straight chain C₂₋₄ alkyl group. In another embodiment, the alkyl group is chosen from a branched chain C₃₋₄ alkyl group. Non-limiting exemplary alkyl groups include methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, heptyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, -iso-propyl, -sec-butyl, -iso-butyl, -tert-butyl, -iso-pentyl, -neopentyl, 1-methylbutyl, 2-methylbutyl, 3-methylbutyl, 1,1-dimethylpropyl, 1,2-dimethylpropyl, 1-methylpentyl, 2-methylpentyl, 3-methylpentyl, 4-methylpentyl, 1-ethylbutyl, 2-ethylbutyl, 3-ethylbutyl, 1,1-dimethylbutyl, 1,2-dimethylbutyl, 1,3-dimethylbutyl, 2,2-dimethylbutyl, 2,3-dimethylbutyl, 3,3-dimethylbutyl, 1-methylhexyl, 2-methylhexyl, 3-methylhexyl, 4-methylhexyl, 5-methylhexyl, 1,2-dimethylpentyl, 1,3-dimethylpentyl, 1,2-dimethylhexyl, 1,3-dimethylhexyl, 3,3-dimethylhexyl, 1,2-dimethylheptyl, 1,3-dimethylheptyl, and 3,3-dimethylheptyl and the like. Non-limiting exemplary C₁₋₄ alkyl groups include methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, sec-butyl, tert-butyl, and iso-butyl.

For the purpose of the present disclosure, the term “optionally substituted alkyl” as used by itself or as part of another group means that the alkyl as defined above is either unsubstituted or substituted with one, two, or three substituents independently chosen from nitro, haloalkoxy, aryloxy, aralkyloxy, alkylthio, sulfonamido, alkylcarbonyl, arylcarbonyl, alkylsulfonyl, arylsulfonyl, ureido, guanidino, carboxy, carboxyalkyl, cycloalkyl, and the like. In one embodiment, the optionally substituted alkyl is substituted with two substituents. In another embodiment, the optionally substituted alkyl is substituted with one substituent. Non-limiting exemplary optionally substituted alkyl groups include —CH₂CH₂NO₂, —CH₂CH₂CO₂H, —CH₂CH₂SO₂CH₃, —CH₂CH₂COPh, and the like.

For the purpose of the present disclosure, the term “cycloalkyl” as used by itself or as part of another group refers to saturated and partially unsaturated (e.g. containing one or two double bonds) cyclic aliphatic hydrocarbons containing one to three rings having from three to twelve carbon atoms (i.e., C₃₋₁₂ cycloalkyl) or the number of carbons designated. In one embodiment, the cycloalkyl group is saturated. In one embodiment, the cycloalkyl group has two rings. In one embodiment, the cycloalkyl group has one ring. In another embodiment, the cycloalkyl group is chosen from a C₃₋₈ cycloalkyl group. In another embodiment, the cycloalkyl group is chosen from a C₄₋₈ cycloalkyl group. In another embodiment, the cycloalkyl group is chosen from a C₃₋₆ cycloalkyl group. Non-limiting exemplary cycloalkyl groups include cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cycloheptyl, cyclooctyl, norbomyl, decalin, adamantyl, cyclohexenyl, cycloheptenyl, cyclooctenyl, cyclooctadienyl, cyclooctatrienyl, and the like.

For the purpose of the present disclosure, the term “optionally substituted cycloalkyl” as used by itself or as part of another group means that the cycloalkyl as defined above is either unsubstituted or substituted with one, two, or three substituents independently chosen from halo, nitro, cyano, hydroxy, amino, alkylamino, dialkylamino, haloalkyl, monohydroxyalkyl, dihydroxyalkyl; alkoxy, haloalkoxy, aryloxy, aralkyloxy, alkylthio, carboxamido, sulfonamido, alkylcarbonyl, arylcarbonyl, alkylsulfonyl, arylsulfonyl, ureido, guanidino, carboxy, carboxyalkyl, alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heterocyclo, alkoxyalkyl, (amino)alkyl, hydroxyalkylamino, (alkylamino)alkyl, (dialkylamino)alkyl, (cyano)alkyl, (carboxamido)alkyl, mercaptoalkyl, (heterocyclo)alkyl, and (heteroaryl)alkyl. In one embodiment, the optionally substituted cycloalkyl is substituted with two substituents. In another embodiment, the optionally substituted cycloalkyl is substituted with one substituent. Non-limiting exemplary optionally substituted cycloalkyl groups include:

For the purpose of the present disclosure, the term “cycloalkenyl” as used by itself or part of another group refers to a cycloalkyl group as defined above containing one, two, or three carbon-to-carbon double bonds. In one embodiment, the cycloalkenyl has one carbon-to-carbon double bond. In another embodiment, the cycloalkenyl group is chosen from a C₄₋₈ cycloalkenyl group. Exemplary cycloalkenyl groups include cyclopentenyl, cyclohexenyl, cycloheptenyl, cyclooctenyl, cyclooctenyl, cyclooctadienyl, cyclooctatrienyl, and the like.

For the purpose of the present disclosure, the term “optionally substituted cycloalkenyl” as used by itself or as part of another group means that the cycloalkenyl as defined above is either unsubstituted or substituted with one, two, or three substituents independently chosen from halo, nitro, cyano, hydroxy, amino, alkylamino, dialkylamino, haloalkyl, monohydroxyalkyl, dihydroxyalkyl; alkoxy, haloalkoxy, aryloxy, aralkyloxy, alkylthio, carboxamido, sulfonamido, alkylcarbonyl, arylcarbonyl, alkylsulfonyl, arylsulfonyl, ureido, guanidino, carboxy, carboxyalkyl, alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heterocyclo, alkoxyalkyl, (amino)alkyl, hydroxyalkylamino, (alkylamino)alkyl, (dialkylamino)alkyl, (cyano)alkyl, (carboxamido)alkyl, mercaptoalkyl, (heterocyclo)alkyl, and (heteroaryl)alkyl. In one embodiment, the optionally substituted cycloalkenyl is substituted with two substituents. In another embodiment, the optionally substituted cycloalkenyl is substituted with one substituent.

For the purpose of the present disclosure, the term “alkenyl” as used by itself or as part of another group refers to an alkyl group as defined above containing one, two or three carbon-to-carbon double bonds. In one embodiment, the alkenyl group is chosen from a C₂₋₆ alkenyl group. In another embodiment, the alkenyl group is chosen from a C₂₋₄ alkenyl group. Non-limiting exemplary alkenyl groups include ethenyl, propenyl, isopropenyl, butenyl, sec-butenyl, -iso-butylenyl, -1-pentenyl, -2-pentenyl, -3-methyl-1-butenyl, -2-methyl-2-butenyl, -2,3-dimethyl-2-butenyl, -1-hexenyl, -2-hexenyl, -3-hexenyl, -1-heptenyl, -2-heptenyl, -3-heptenyl, -1-octenyl, -2-octenyl, -3-octenyl, -1-nonenyl, -2-nonenyl, -3-nonenyl, -1-decenyl, -2-decenyl, -3-decenyl, and the like.

For the purpose of the present disclosure, the term “optionally substituted alkenyl” as used herein by itself or as part of another group means the alkenyl as defined above is either unsubstituted or substituted with one, two or three substituents independently chosen from halo, nitro, cyano, hydroxy, amino, alkylamino, dialkylamino, haloalkyl, monohydroxyalkyl, dihydroxyalkyl; alkoxy, haloalkoxy, aryloxy, aralkyloxy, alkylthio, carboxamido, sulfonamido, alkylcarbonyl, arylcarbonyl, alkylsulfonyl, arylsulfonyl, ureido, guanidino, carboxy, carboxyalkyl, alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, heteroaryl, or heterocyclo.

For the purpose of the present disclosure, the term “alkynyl” as used by itself or as part of another group refers to an alkyl group as defined above containing one to three carbon-to-carbon triple bonds. In one embodiment, the alkynyl has one carbon-to-carbon triple bond. In one embodiment, the alkynyl group is chosen from a C₂₋₆ alkynyl group. In another embodiment, the alkynyl group is chosen from a C₂₋₄ alkynyl group. Non-limiting exemplary alkynyl groups include ethynyl, propynyl, butynyl, 2-butynyl, -1-pentynyl, -2-pentynyl, -3-methyl-1-butynyl, -4-pentynyl, -1-hexynyl, -2-hexynyl, 3-hexynyl, -5-hexynyl, -1-heptynyl, -2-heptynyl, -6-heptynyl, -1-octynyl, -2-octynyl, -7-octynyl, -1-nonynyl, -2-nonynyl, -8-nonynyl, -1-decynyl, -2-decynyl, -9-decynyl, and the like.

For the purpose of the present disclosure, the term “optionally substituted alkynyl” as used herein by itself or as part of another group means the alkynyl as defined above is either unsubstituted or substituted with one, two or three substituents independently chosen from halo, nitro, cyano, hydroxy, amino, alkylamino, dialkylamino, haloalkyl, monohydroxyalkyl, dihydroxyalkyl, alkoxy, haloalkoxy, aryloxy, aralkyloxy, alkylthio, carboxamido, sulfonamido, alkylcarbonyl, arylcarbonyl, alkylsulfonyl, arylsulfonyl, ureido, guanidino, carboxy, carboxyalkyl, alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, heteroaryl, or heterocyclo.

For the purpose of the present disclosure, the term “haloalkyl” as used by itself or as part of another group refers to an alkyl group as defined above substituted by one or more fluorine, chlorine, bromine and/or iodine atoms. In one embodiment, the alkyl group is substituted by one, two, or three fluorine and/or chlorine atoms. In another embodiment, the haloalkyl group is chosen from a C₁₋₄ haloalkyl group. Non-limiting exemplary haloalkyl groups include fluoromethyl, difluoromethyl, trifluoromethyl, pentafluoroethyl, 1,1-difluoroethyl, 2,2-difluoroethyl, 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl, 3,3,3-trifluoropropyl, 4,4,4-trifluorobutyl, and trichloromethyl groups.

For the purpose of the present disclosure, the term “monohydroxyalkyl” as used by itself or as part of another group refers to an alkyl group as defined above substituted with exactly one hydroxy group. Non-limiting exemplary monohydroxyalkyl groups include hydroxymethyl, hydroxyethyl, hydroxypropyl and hydroxybutyl groups. In one embodiment, the monohydroxyalkyl group is a C₁₋₆ monohydroxyalkyl. In one embodiment, the monohydroxyalkyl group is a C₁₋₄ monohydroxyalkyl.

For the purpose of the present disclosure, the term “dihydroxyalkyl” as used by itself or as part of another group refers to an alkyl group as defined above substituted with exactly two hydroxy groups. Non-limiting exemplary dihydroxyalkyl groups include 1,2-dihydroxyethyl and 1,3-dihydroxyprop-2-yl. In one embodiment, the dihydroxyalkyl group is a C₂₋₆ dihydroxyalkyl. In one embodiment, the dihydroxyalkyl group is a C₂₋₄ dihydroxyalkyl. In one embodiment, the dihydroxyalkyl group is a C₂ dihydroxyalkyl.

For the purpose of the present disclosure, the term “alkoxy” as used by itself or as part of another group refers to an optionally substituted alkyl, optionally substituted cycloalkyl, optionally substituted alkenyl or optionally substituted alkynyl attached to a terminal oxygen atom. In one embodiment, the alkoxy group is chosen from a C₁₋₄ alkoxy group. In another embodiment, the alkoxy group is chosen from a C₁₋₄ alkyl attached to a terminal oxygen atom, e.g., methoxy, ethoxy, and tert-butoxy.

For the purpose of the present disclosure, the term “alkylthio” as used by itself or as part of another group refers to a sulfur atom substituted by an optionally substituted alkyl group. In one embodiment, the alkylthio group is chosen from a C₁₋₄ alkylthio group. Non-limiting exemplary alkylthio groups include —SCH₃, and —SCH₂CH₃.

For the purpose of the present disclosure, the term “alkoxyalkyl” as used by itself or as part of another group refers to any of the above-mentioned alkyl groups substituted with any of the above-mentioned alkoxy groups. Non-limiting exemplary alkoxyalkyl groups include methoxymethyl, methoxyethyl, methoxypropyl, methoxybutyl, ethoxymethyl, ethoxyethyl, ethoxypropyl, ethoxybutyl, propoxymethyl, iso-propoxymethyl, propoxyethyl, propoxypropyl, butoxymethyl, tert-butoxymethyl, isobutoxymethyl, sec-butoxymethyl, and pentyloxymethyl.

For the purpose of the present disclosure, the term “heteroalkyl” as used by itself or part of another group refers to a stable straight or branched chain hydrocarbon radical containing 1 to 10 carbon atoms and at least two heteroatoms, which can be the same or different, selected from O, N, or S, wherein: 1) the nitrogen atom(s) and sulfur atom(s) can optionally be oxidized; and/or 2) the nitrogen atom(s) can optionally be quaternized. The heteroatoms can be placed at any interior position of the heteroalkyl group or at a position at which the heteroalkyl group is attached to the remainder of the molecule. In one embodiment, the heteroalkyl group contains two oxygen atoms. Non-limiting exemplary heteroalkyl groups include —CH₂OCH₂CH₂OCH₃, —OCH₂CH₂OCH₂CH₂OCH₃, —CH₂NHCH₂CH₂OCH₂, —OCH₂CH₂NH₂, and —NHCH₂CH₂N(H)CH₃.

For the purpose of the present disclosure, the term “haloalkoxy” as used by itself or as part of another group refers to a haloalkyl attached to a terminal oxygen atom. Non-limiting exemplary haloalkoxy groups include fluoromethoxy, difluoromethoxy, trifluoromethoxy, and 2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy. For the purpose of the present disclosure, the term “aryl” as used by itself or as part of another group refers to a monocyclic or bicyclic aromatic ring system having from six to fourteen carbon atoms (i.e., C₆-C₁₄ aryl). Non-limiting exemplary aryl groups include phenyl (abbreviated as “Ph”), naphthyl, phenanthryl, anthracyl, indenyl, azulenyl, biphenyl, biphenylenyl, and fluorenyl groups. In one embodiment, the aryl group is chosen from phenyl and naphthyl.

For the purpose of the present disclosure, the term “optionally substituted aryl” as used herein by itself or as part of another group means that the aryl as defined above is either unsubstituted or substituted with one to five substituents independently chosen from halo, nitro, cyano, hydroxy, amino, alkylamino, dialkylamino, haloalkyl, monohydroxyalkyl, dihydroxyalkyl, alkoxy, haloalkoxy, aryloxy, aralkyloxy, alkylthio, carboxamido, sulfonamido, alkylcarbonyl, arylcarbonyl, alkylsulfonyl, arylsulfonyl, ureido, guanidino, carboxy, carboxyalkyl, alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heterocyclo, alkoxyalkyl, (amino)alkyl, hydroxyalkylamino, (alkylamino)alkyl, (dialkylamino)alkyl, (cyano)alkyl, (carboxamido)alkyl, mercaptoalkyl, (heterocyclo)alkyl, or (heteroaryl)alkyl. In one embodiment, the optionally substituted aryl is an optionally substituted phenyl. In one embodiment, the optionally substituted phenyl has four substituents. In another embodiment, the optionally substituted phenyl has three substituents. In another embodiment, the optionally substituted phenyl has two substituents. In another embodiment, the optionally substituted phenyl has one substituent. Non-limiting exemplary substituted aryl groups include 2-methylphenyl, 2-methoxyphenyl, 2-fluorophenyl, 2-chlorophenyl, 2-bromophenyl, 3-methylphenyl, 3-methoxyphenyl, 3-fluorophenyl, 3-chlorophenyl, 4-methylphenyl, 4-ethylphenyl, 4-methoxyphenyl, 4-fluorophenyl, 4-chlorophenyl, 2,6-di-fluorophenyl, 2,6-di-chlorophenyl, 2-methyl, 3-methoxyphenyl, 2-ethyl, 3-methoxyphenyl, 3,4-di-methoxyphenyl, 3,5-di-fluorophenyl 3,5-di-methylphenyl and 3,5-dimethoxy, 4-methylphenyl, 2-fluoro-3-chlorophenyl, 2-cyano-3-trifluoromethylphenyl, 2-trifluoromethyl-3-cyanophenyl, 4-cyanophenyl, 4-trifluoromethylphenyl, and 3-chloro-4-fluorophenyl. The term optionally substituted aryl is meant to include groups having fused optionally substituted cycloalkyl and fused optionally substituted heterocyclo rings. Examples include

For the purpose of the present disclosure, the term “aryloxy” as used by itself or as part of another group refers to an optionally substituted aryl attached to a terminal oxygen atom. A non-limiting exemplary aryloxy group is PhO—.

For the purpose of the present disclosure, the term “aralkyloxy” as used by itself or as part of another group refers to an aralkyl group attached to a terminal oxygen atom. A non-limiting exemplary aralkyloxy group is PhCH₂O—.

For the purpose of the present disclosure, the term “heteroaryl” or “heteroaromatic” refers to monocyclic and bicyclic aromatic ring systems having 5 to 14 ring atoms (i.e., C₅-C₁₄ heteroaryl) and 1, 2, 3, or 4 heteroatoms independently selected from the group consisting of oxygen, nitrogen, and sulfur. In one embodiment, the heteroaryl has three heteroatoms. In another embodiment, the heteroaryl has two heteroatoms. In another embodiment, the heteroaryl has one heteroatom. In one embodiment, the heteroaryl is a 5-membered heteroaryl. In another embodiment, the heteroaryl is a 6-membered heteroaryl. In another embodiment, the heteroaryl is a 6-membered heteroaryl having one or two nitrogen atoms. In another embodiment, the heteroaryl is a 5- or 6-membered heteroaryl. In another embodiment, the heteroaryl is a monocyclic 5- or 6-membered heteroaryl. Non-limiting exemplary heteroaryl groups include thienyl, benzo[b]thienyl, naphtho[2,3-b]thienyl, thianthrenyl, furyl, benzofuryl, pyranyl, isobenzofuranyl, benzooxazonyl, chromenyl, xanthenyl, 2H-pyrrolyl, pyrrolyl, imidazolyl, pyrazolyl, pyridyl, pyrazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyridazinyl, isoindolyl, 3H-indolyl, indolyl, indazolyl, purinyl, isoquinolyl, quinolyl, phthalazinyl, naphthyridinyl, cinnolinyl, quinazolinyl, pteridinyl, 4aH-carbazolyl, carbazolyl, β-carbolinyl, phenanthridinyl, acridinyl, pyrimidinyl, phenanthrolinyl, phenazinyl, thiazolyl, isothiazolyl, phenothiazolyl, isoxazolyl, furazanyl, benzimidazolyl, and phenoxazinyl. In one embodiment, the heteroaryl is chosen from thienyl (e.g., thien-2-yl and thien-3-yl), furyl (e.g., 2-furyl and 3-furyl), pyrrolyl (e.g., 1H-pyrrol-2-yl and 1H-pyrrol-3-yl), imidazolyl (e.g., 2H-imidazol-2-yl and 2H-imidazol-4-yl), pyrazolyl (e.g., 1H-pyrazol-3-yl, 1H-pyrazol-4-yl, and 1H-pyrazol-5-yl), pyridyl (e.g., pyridin-2-yl, pyridin-3-yl, and pyridin-4-yl), pyrimidinyl (e.g., pyrimidin-2-yl, pyrimidin-4-yl, pyrimidin-5-yl, and pyrimidin-5-yl), thiazolyl (e.g., thiazol-2-yl, thiazol-4-yl, and thiazol-5-yl), isothiazolyl (e.g., isothiazol-3-yl, isothiazol-4-yl, and isothiazol-5-yl), oxazolyl (e.g., oxazol-2-yl, oxazol-4-yl, and oxazol-5-yl) and isoxazolyl (e.g., isoxazol-3-yl, isoxazol-4-yl, and isoxazol-5-yl). The term “heteroaryl” is also meant to include possible N-oxides. Exemplary N-oxides include pyridyl N-oxide and the like.

For the purpose of the present disclosure, the term “optionally substituted heteroaryl” as used by itself or as part of another group means that the heteroaryl as defined above is either unsubstituted or substituted with one to four substituents, e.g., one or two substituents, independently chosen from halo, nitro, cyano, hydroxy, amino, alkylamino, dialkylamino, haloalkyl, monohydroxyalkyl, dihydroxyalkyl, alkoxy, haloalkoxy, aryloxy, aralkyloxy, alkylthio, carboxamido, sulfonamido, alkylcarbonyl, arylcarbonyl, alkylsulfonyl, arylsulfonyl, ureido, guanidino, carboxy, carboxyalkyl, alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heterocyclo, alkoxyalkyl, (amino)alkyl, hydroxyalkylamino, (alkylamino)alkyl, (dialkylamino)alkyl, (cyano)alkyl, (carboxamido)alkyl, mercaptoalkyl, (heterocyclo)alkyl, and (heteroaryl)alkyl. In one embodiment, the optionally substituted heteroaryl has one substituent. In one embodiment, the optionally substituted is an optionally substituted pyridyl, i.e., 2-, 3-, or 4-pyridyl. Any available carbon or nitrogen atom can be substituted. In another embodiment, the optionally substituted heteroaryl is an optionally substituted indole.

For the purpose of the present disclosure, the term “heterocycle” or “heterocyclo” as used by itself or as part of another group refers to saturated and partially unsaturated (e.g., containing one or two double bonds) cyclic groups containing one, two, or three rings having from 3 to 14 ring members and at least one heteroatom. A 3-membered heterocyclo can contain up to 1 heteroatom, a 4-membered heterocyclo can contain up to 2 heteroatoms, a 5-membered heterocyclo can contain up to 4 heteroatoms, and a 6-membered heterocyclo can contain up to 4 heteroatoms, and a 7-membered heterocyclo can contain up to 5 heteroatoms. Each heteroatom is independently selected from the group consisting of oxygen, sulfur, including sulfoxide and sulfone, and/or nitrogen atoms, which can be quaternized. The term “heterocyclo” is meant to include cyclic ureido groups such as 2-imidazolidinone. In one embodiment, the heterocyclo group is chosen from a 5- or 6-membered cyclic group containing one ring and one or two oxygen and/or nitrogen atoms. In another embodiment, the heterocyclo group is chosen from a 4- to 8-membered heterocycle. In another embodiment, the heterocyclo group is chosen from a 4- to 12-membered heterocycle. In another embodiment, the heterocyclo group is chosen from a 3- to 8-membered heterocycle. The heterocyclo can be optionally linked to the rest of the molecule through a carbon or nitrogen atom. Non-limiting exemplary heterocyclo groups include 2-imidazolidinone, piperidinyl, morpholinyl, piperazinyl, and pyrrolidinyl.

For the purpose of the present disclosure, the term “optionally substituted heterocyclo” as used herein by itself or part of another group means the heterocyclo as defined above is either unsubstituted or substituted with one to four substituents independently selected from halo, nitro, cyano, hydroxy, amino, alkylamino, dialkylamino, haloalkyl, monohydroxyalkyl, dihydroxyalkyl, alkoxy, haloalkoxy, aryloxy, aralkyloxy, alkylthio, carboxamido, sulfonamido, alkylcarbonyl, arylcarbonyl, alkylsulfonyl, arylsulfonyl, ureido, guanidino, carboxy, carboxyalkyl, alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heterocyclo, alkoxyalkyl, (amino)alkyl, hydroxyalkylamino, (alkylamino)alkyl, (dialkylamino)alkyl, (cyano)alkyl, (carboxamido)alkyl, mercaptoalkyl, (heterocyclo)alkyl, (heteroaryl)alkyl, and the like. Substitution may occur on any available carbon or nitrogen atom. An optionally substituted heterocyclo can be fused to an aryl group to provide an optionally substituted aryl as described above. Non-limiting exemplary optionally substituted heterocyclo groups include:

For the purpose of the present disclosure, the term “amino” as used by itself or as part of another group refers to —NH₂.

For the purpose of the present disclosure, the term “(amino)alkyl” as used by itself or as part of another group refers to any of the above-mentioned alkyl groups substituted with an amino group. Non-limiting exemplary amino alkyl groups include —CH₂NH₂, —CH₂CH₂NH₂, —CH₂CH₂CH₂NH₂, —CH₂CH₂CH₂CH₂NH₂ and the like.

For the purpose of the present disclosure, the term “diaminoalkyl” as used by itself or as part of another group refers any of the above-mentioned alkyl groups substituted with two amino groups.

For the purpose of the present disclosure, the term “alkylamino” as used by itself or as part of another group refers to —NHR⁹, wherein R⁹ is any alkyl group as “alkyl” is defined above.

For the purpose of the present disclosure, the term “dialkylamino” as used by itself or as part of another group refers to —NR^(10a)R^(10b) wherein R^(10a) and R^(10b) are each independently any alkyl group as “alkyl” is defined above.

For the purpose of the present disclosure, the term “hydroxyalkylamino” as used by itself or as part of another group refers to —NHR¹¹, wherein R¹¹ is a monohydroxyalkyl or dihydroxyalkyl group as defined above.

For the purpose of the present disclosure, the term “arylamino” as used by itself or as part of another group refers to —NR^(12a)R^(12b) wherein R^(12a) is any optionally substituted aryl group as “aryl” is defined above and R^(12b) is hydrogen or any alkyl group as “alkyl” is defined above.

For the purpose of the present disclosure, the term “cycloalkylamino” as used by itself or as part of another group refers to —NR^(13a)R^(13b) wherein R^(13a) is any optionally substituted cycloalkyl group as “cycloalkyl” is defined above and R^(13b) is hydrogen or any alkyl group as “alkyl” is defined above.

For the purpose of the present disclosure, the term “heteroarylamino” as used by itself or as part of another group refers to —NR^(14a)R^(14b) wherein R^(14a) is any optionally substituted heteroaryl group as “heteroaryl” is defined above and R^(14b) is hydrogen or any alkyl group as “alkyl” is defined above.

For the purpose of the present disclosure, the term “heterocycloamino” as used by itself or as part of another group refers to —NR^(15a)R^(15b) wherein R^(15a) is any optionally substituted heterocyclo group as “heterocyclo” is defined above and R^(15b) is hydrogen or any alkyl group as “alkyl” is defined above.

For the purpose of the present disclosure, the term “(alkylamino)alkyl” as used by itself or as part of another group refers to any alkyl group as “alkyl” is defined above substituted by any alkylamino group as “alkylamino” is defined above.

For the purpose of the present disclosure, the term “(dialkylamino)alkyl” as used by itself or as part of another group refers to any alkyl group as “alkyl” is defined above substituted by any dialkylamino group as “dialkylamino” is defined above.

For the purpose of the present disclosure, the term “(cyano)alkyl” as used by itself or as part of another group refers to any alkyl group as “alkyl” is defined above substituted with one or more cyano, e.g., —CN, groups. Non-limiting exemplary (cyano)alkyl groups include —CH₂CN, —CH₂CH₂CN, —CH₂CH₂CH₂CN, and —CH₂CH₂CH₂CH₂CN.

For the purpose of the present disclosure, the term “carboxamido” as used by itself or as part of another group refers to a radical of formula —C(═O)NR^(16a)R^(16b), wherein R^(16a) and R^(16b) are each independently hydrogen, optionally substituted alkyl, optionally substituted aryl, or optionally substituted heteroaryl, or R^(16a) and R^(16b) taken together with the nitrogen to which they are attached from a 3- to 8-membered heterocyclo group. In one embodiment, R^(16a) and R^(16b) are each independently hydrogen or optionally substituted alkyl. Non-limiting exemplary carboxamido groups include —CONH₂, —CON(H)CH₃, CON(CH₃)₂, and CON(H)Ph.

For the purpose of the present disclosure, the term “(carboxamido)alkyl” as used by itself or as part of another group refers to any of the above-mentioned alkyl groups substituted with a carboxamido group. Non-limiting exemplary (carboxamido)alkyl groups include —CH₂CONH₂, —C(H)CH₃CONH₂, and —CH₂CON(H)CH₃.

For the purpose of the present disclosure, the term “sulfonamido” as used by itself or as part of another group refers to a radical of the formula —SO₂NR^(17a)R^(17b), wherein R^(17a) and R^(17b) are each independently hydrogen, optionally substituted alkyl, or optionally substituted aryl, or R^(17a) and R^(17b) taken together with the nitrogen to which they are attached from a 3- to 8-membered heterocyclo group. Non-limiting exemplary sulfonamido groups include —SO₂NH₂, —SO₂N(H)CH₃, and —SO₂N(H)Ph.

For the purpose of the present disclosure, the term “alkylcarbonyl” as used by itself or as part of another group refers to a carbonyl group, i.e., —C(═O)—, substituted by any of the above-mentioned optionally substituted alkyl groups. A non-limiting exemplary alkylcarbonyl group is —COCH₃.

For the purpose of the present disclosure, the term “arylcarbonyl” as used by itself or as part of another group refers to a carbonyl group, i.e., —C(═O)—, substituted by any of the above-mentioned optionally substituted aryl groups. A non-limiting exemplary arylcarbonyl group is —COPh.

For the purpose of the present disclosure, the term “alkylsulfonyl” as used by itself or as part of another group refers to a sulfonyl group, i.e., —SO₂—, substituted by any of the above-mentioned optionally substituted alkyl groups. A non-limiting exemplary alkylsulfonyl group is —SO₂CH₃.

For the purpose of the present disclosure, the term “arylsulfonyl” as used by itself or as part of another group refers to a sulfonyl group, i.e., —SO₂—, substituted by any of the above-mentioned optionally substituted aryl groups. A non-limiting exemplary arylsulfonyl group is —SO₂Ph.

For the purpose of the present disclosure, the term “mercaptoalkyl” as used by itself or as part of another group refers to any of the above-mentioned alkyl groups substituted by a —SH group.

For the purpose of the present disclosure, the term “sulfinyl” as used by itself or as part of another group refers to a —S(═O)-group substituted by any of the above-mentioned optionally substituted alkyl groups. A non-limiting exemplary alkylsulfinyl group is —S(═O)CH₃.

For the purpose of the present disclosure, the term “carboxy” as used by itself or as part of another group refers to a radical of the formula —COOH.

For the purpose of the present disclosure, the term “nitro” as used by itself or as part of another group refers to a radical of the formula —NO₂.

For the purpose of the present disclosure, the term “cyano” as used by itself or as part of another group refers to a radical of the formula —CN.

For the purpose of the present disclosure, the term “hydroxy” as used by itself or as part of another group refers to a radical of the formula —OH.

For the purpose of the present disclosure, the term “carboxyalkyl” as used by itself or as part of another group refers to any of the above-mentioned alkyl groups substituted with a —COOH. A non-limiting exemplary carboxyalkyl group is —CH₂CO₂H.

For the purpose of the present disclosure, the term “aralkyl” as used by itself or as part of another group refers to any of the above-mentioned alkyl groups substituted with one, two, or three optionally substituted aryl groups. In one embodiment, the aralkyl group is a C₁₋₄ alkyl substituted with one optionally substituted aryl group. Non-limiting exemplary aralkyl groups include benzyl, trityl, and phenethyl.

For the purpose of the present disclosure, the term “ureido” as used by itself or as part of another group refers to a radical of the formula —NR^(18a)—C(═O)—NR^(18b)R^(18c), wherein R^(18a) is hydrogen, optionally substituted alkyl, or optionally substituted aryl, and R^(18b) and R^(18c) are each independently hydrogen, optionally substituted alkyl, or optionally substituted aryl, or R^(18b) and R^(18c) taken together with the nitrogen to which they are attached form a 4- to 8-membered heterocyclo group. Non-limiting exemplary ureido groups include —NH—C(C═O)—NH₂ and NH—C(C═O)—NHCH₃.

For the purpose of the present disclosure, the term “guanidino” as used by itself or as part of another group refers to a radical of the formula —NR^(19a)—C(═NR²⁰)—NR^(19b)R^(19c), wherein R^(19a), R^(19b), and R^(19c) are each independently hydrogen, optionally substituted alkyl, or optionally substituted aryl, and R²⁰ is hydrogen, alkyl, cyano, alkylsulfonyl, alkylcarbonyl, carboxamido, or sulfonamido. Non-limiting exemplary guanidino groups include —NH—C(C═NH)—NH₂, —NH—C(C═NCN)—NH₂, —NH—C(C═NH)—NHCH₃ and the like.

For the purpose of the present disclosure, the term “azido” as used by itself or as part of another group refers to a radical of the formula —N₃.

For the purpose of the present disclosure, the term “(heterocyclo)alkyl” as used by itself or as part of another group refers to any of the above-mentioned alkyl groups substituted with one, two, or three optionally substituted heterocyclo groups. In one embodiment, the (heterocyclo)alkyl group is a C₁₋₄ alkyl substituted with one optionally substituted heterocyclo group. Non-limiting exemplary (heterocyclo)alkyl groups include:

For the purpose of the present disclosure, the term “(heteroaryl)alkyl” as used by itself or as part of another group refers to any of the above-mentioned alkyl groups substituted with one, two, or three optionally substituted heteroaryl groups. In one embodiment, the (heteroaryl)alkyl group is a C₁₋₄ alkyl substituted with one optionally substituted heteroaryl group. Non-limiting exemplary (heteroaryl)alkyl groups include:

For the purpose of the present disclosure, the term “alkylcarbonylamino” as used by itself or as part of another group refers to an alkylcarbonyl group attached to an amino nitrogen. A non-limiting exemplary alkylcarbonylamino group is —NHCOCH₃.

The present invention disclosed herein is also meant to encompass prodrugs of any of the disclosed compounds. As used herein, prodrugs are considered to be any covalently bonded carriers that release the active parent drug in vivo. In general, such prodrugs will be functional derivatives of compounds of any of Formulae I-V, which will be readily convertible in vivo, e.g., by being metabolized, into the required compound of Formulae I-V. Conventional procedures for the selection and preparation of suitable prodrug derivatives are described in, for example, Design of Prodrugs, H. Bundgaard ed., Elsevier (1985); “Drug and Enzyme Targeting, Part A,” K. Widder et al. eds., Vol. 112 in Methods in Enzymology, Academic Press (1985); Bundgaard, “Design and Application of Prodrugs,” Chapter 5 (pp. 113-191) in A Textbook of Drug Design and Development, P. Krogsgaard-Larsen and H. Bundgaard eds., Harwood Academic Publishers (1991); Bundgaard et al., Adv. Drug Delivery Revs. 8:1-38 (1992); Bundgaard et al., J. Pharmaceut. Sci. 77:285 (1988); and Kakeya et al., Chem. Pharm. Bull. 32:692 (1984). Non-limiting examples of prodrugs include esters or amides of compounds of any of Formulae I-V having monohydroxyalkyl or dihydroxyalkyl or aminoalkyl as a substituent, and these can be prepared by reacting such parent compounds with anhydrides such as succinic anhydride.

The invention disclosed herein is also intended to encompass any of the disclosed compounds being isotopically-labelled (i.e., radiolabeled) by having one or more atoms replaced by an atom having a different atomic mass or mass number. Examples of isotopes that can be incorporated into the disclosed compounds include isotopes of hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorous, fluorine and chlorine, such as ²H, ³H, ¹¹C, ¹³C, ¹⁴C, ¹⁵N, ¹⁸O, ¹⁷O, ³¹P, ³²P, ³⁵S, ¹⁸F, and ³⁶Cl, respectively, and preferably ³H, ¹¹C, and ¹⁴C. Isotopically-labeled compounds of the present invention can be prepared by methods known in the art.

The present invention is also directed to ³H, ¹¹C, or ¹⁴C radiolabeled compounds of any of Formulae I-V, as well as their pharmaceutically acceptable salts, prodrugs and solvates, and the use of any such compounds as radioligands for their ability to bind to the sodium channel. For example, one use of the labeled compounds of the present invention is the characterization of specific receptor binding. Another use of a labeled Compound of the Invention is an alternative to animal testing for the evaluation of structure-activity relationships. For example, the receptor assay can be performed at a fixed concentration of a labeled Compound of the Invention and at increasing concentrations of a test compound in a competition assay. For example, a tritiated compound of any of Formulae I-V can be prepared by introducing tritium into the particular compound, for example, by catalytic dehalogenation with tritium. This method may include reacting a suitably halogen-substituted precursor of the compound with tritium gas in the presence of a suitable catalyst, for example, Pd/C, in the presence or absence of a base. Other suitable methods for preparing tritiated compounds can be found in Filer, Isotopes in the Physical and Biomedical Sciences, Vol. 1, Labeled Compounds (Part A), Chapter 6 (1987). ¹⁴C-labeled compounds can be prepared by employing starting materials having a ¹⁴C carbon.

Some of the compounds disclosed herein may contain one or more asymmetric centers and may thus give rise to enantiomers, diastereomers, and other stereoisomeric forms. The present invention is meant to encompass the use of all such possible forms, as well as their racemic and resolved forms and mixtures thereof. The individual enantiomers can be separated according to methods known in the art in view of the present disclosure. When the compounds described herein contain olefinic double bonds or other centers of geometric asymmetry, and unless specified otherwise, it is intended that they include both E and Z geometric isomers. All tautomers are intended to be encompassed by the present invention as well.

As used herein, the term “stereoisomers” is a general term for all isomers of individual molecules that differ only in the orientation of their atoms in space. It includes enantiomers and isomers of compounds with more than one chiral center that are not mirror images of one another (diastereomers).

The term “chiral center” refers to a carbon atom to which four different groups are attached.

The terms “enantiomer” and “enantiomeric” refer to a molecule that cannot be superimposed on its mirror image and hence is optically active wherein the enantiomer rotates the plane of polarized light in one direction and its mirror image compound rotates the plane of polarized light in the opposite direction.

The term “racemic” refers to a mixture of equal parts of enantiomers and which mixture is optically inactive.

The term “resolution” refers to the separation or concentration or depletion of one of the two enantiomeric forms of a molecule.

The terms “a” and “an” refer to one or more.

The term “treat,” “treating” or “treatment” is meant to encompass administering to a subject a Compound of the Invention for the purposes of amelioration or cure, including preemptive and palliative treatment.

The term “about,” as used herein in connection with a measured quantity, refers to the normal variations in that measured quantity, as expected by the skilled artisan making the measurement and exercising a level of care commensurate with the objective of measurement and the precision of the measuring equipment.

The invention disclosed herein also encompasses the use of salts of the disclosed compounds, including all non-toxic pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof of the disclosed compounds. Examples of pharmaceutically acceptable addition salts include inorganic and organic acid addition salts and basic salts.

The pharmaceutically acceptable salts include, but are not limited to, metal salts such as sodium salt, potassium salt, cesium salt and the like; alkaline earth metals such as calcium salt, magnesium salt and the like; organic amine salts such as triethylamine salt, pyridine salt, picoline salt, ethanolamine salt, triethanolamine salt, dicyclohexylamine salt, N,N′-dibenzylethylenediamine salt and the like; inorganic acid salts such as hydrochloride, hydrobromide, phosphate, sulphate and the like; organic acid salts such as citrate, lactate, tartrate, maleate, fumarate, mandelate, acetate, dichloroacetate, trifluoroacetate, oxalate, formate and the like; sulfonates such as methanesulfonate, benzenesulfonate, p-toluenesulfonate and the like; and amino acid salts such as arginate, asparginate, glutamate and the like.

Acid addition salts can be formed by mixing a solution of the particular Compound of the Invention with a solution of a pharmaceutically acceptable non-toxic acid such as hydrochloric acid, fumaric acid, maleic acid, succinic acid, acetic acid, citric acid, tartaric acid, carbonic acid, phosphoric acid, oxalic acid, dichloroacetic acid, or the like. Basic salts can be formed by mixing a solution of the Compound of the Invention with a solution of a pharmaceutically acceptable non-toxic base such as sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, choline hydroxide, sodium carbonate and the like.

The invention disclosed herein is also meant to encompass solvates of any of the disclosed compounds. Solvates typically do not significantly alter the physiological activity or toxicity of the compounds, and as such may function as pharmacological equivalents. The term “solvate” as used herein is a combination, physical association and/or solvation of a Compound of the Invention with a solvent molecule such as, e.g. a disolvate, monosolvate or hemisolvate, where the ratio of solvent molecule to Compound of the Invention is 2:1, 1:1 or 1:2, respectively. This physical association involves varying degrees of ionic and covalent bonding, including hydrogen bonding. In certain instances, the solvate can be isolated, such as when one or more solvent molecules are incorporated into the crystal lattice of a crystalline solid. Thus, “solvate” encompasses both solution-phase and isolatable solvates. Compounds of any of Formulae I-V can be present as solvated forms with a pharmaceutically acceptable solvent, such as water, methanol, ethanol, and the like, and it is intended that the invention includes both solvated and unsolvated forms of compounds of any of Formulae I-V. One type of solvate is a hydrate. A “hydrate” relates to a particular subgroup of solvates where the solvent molecule is water. Solvates typically can function as pharmacological equivalents. Preparation of solvates is known in the art. See, for example, M. Caira et al, J. Pharmaceut. Sci., 93(3):601-611 (2004), which describes the preparation of solvates of fluconazole with ethyl acetate and with water. Similar preparation of solvates, hemisolvates, hydrates, and the like are described by E. C. van Tonder et al., AAPS Pharm. Sci. Tech., 5(1):Article 12 (2004), and A. L. Bingham et al., Chem. Commun.: 603-604 (2001). A typical, non-limiting, process of preparing a solvate would involve dissolving a compound of any of Formulae I-V in a desired solvent (organic, water, or a mixture thereof) at temperatures above 20° C. to about 25° C., then cooling the solution at a rate sufficient to form crystals, and isolating the crystals by known methods, e.g., filtration. Analytical techniques such as infrared spectroscopy can be used to confirm the presence of the solvent in a crystal of the solvate.

Because compounds of Formulae I-V are blockers of sodium (Na⁺) channels, a number of diseases and conditions mediated by sodium ion influx can be treated by employing these compounds. The present invention is thus directed generally to a method for treating a disorder responsive to the blockade of sodium channels in an animal suffering from, or at risk of suffering from, said disorder, said method comprising administering to the animal an effective amount of a compound represented by any of defined Formulae I-V, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, prodrug, or solvate thereof.

The present invention is further directed to a method of modulating sodium channels in an animal in need thereof, said method comprising administering to the animal a modulating-effective amount of at least one compound represented by any of defined Formulae I-V, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, prodrug, or solvate thereof.

More specifically, the present invention provides a method of treating stroke, neuronal damage resulting from head trauma, epilepsy, neuronal loss following global and focal ischemia, pain (e.g., acute pain, chronic pain, which includes but is not limited to neuropathic pain, postoperative pain, and inflammatory pain, or surgical pain), a neurodegenerative disorder (e.g., Alzheimer's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or Parkinson's disease), migraine, manic depression, tinnitus, myotonia, a movement disorder, or cardiac arrhythmia, or providing local anesthesia. In one embodiment, the invention provides a method of treating pain. In another embodiment, the type of pain is chronic pain. In another embodiment, the type of pain is neuropathic pain. In another embodiment, the type of pain is postoperative pain. In another embodiment, the type of pain is inflammatory pain. In another embodiment, the type of pain is surgical pain. In another embodiment, the type of pain is acute pain. In another embodiment, the treatment of pain (e.g., chronic pain, such as neuropathic pain, postoperative pain, or inflammatory pain, acute pain or surgical pain) is preemptive. In another embodiment, the treatment of pain is palliative. In each instance, such method of treatment requires administering to an animal in need of such treatment an amount of a Compound of the Invention that is therapeutically effective in achieving said treatment. In one embodiment, the amount of such compound is the amount that is effective to block sodium channels in vivo.

Chronic pain includes, but is not limited to, inflammatory pain, postoperative pain, cancer pain, osteoarthritis pain associated with metastatic cancer, trigeminal neuralgia, acute herpetic and postherpetic neuralgia, diabetic neuropathy, causalgia, brachial plexus avulsion, occipital neuralgia, reflex sympathetic dystrophy, fibromyalgia, gout, phantom limb pain, burn pain, and other forms of neuralgia, neuropathic, and idiopathic pain syndromes.

Chronic somatic pain generally results from inflammatory responses to tissue injury such as nerve entrapment, surgical procedures, cancer or arthritis (Brower, Nature Biotechnology 2000; 18: 387-391).

The inflammatory process is a complex series of biochemical and cellular events activated in response to tissue injury or the presence of foreign substances (Levine, Inflammatory Pain, In: Textbook of Pain, Wall and Melzack eds., 3^(rd) ed., 1994). Inflammation often occurs at the site of injured tissue, or foreign material, and contributes to the process of tissue repair and healing. The cardinal signs of inflammation include erythema (redness), heat, edema (swelling), pain and loss of function (ibid.). The majority of patients with inflammatory pain do not experience pain continually, but rather experience enhanced pain when the inflamed site is moved or touched. Inflammatory pain includes, but is not limited to, that associated with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Chronic neuropathic pain is a heterogenous disease state with an unclear etiology. In chronic neuropathic pain, the pain can be mediated by multiple mechanisms. This type of pain generally arises from injury to the peripheral or central nervous tissue. The syndromes include pain associated with spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, post-herpetic neuralgia, trigeminal neuralgia, phantom pain, causalgia, and reflex sympathetic dystrophy and lower back pain. Chronic pain is different from acute pain in that patients suffer the abnormal pain sensations that can be described as spontaneous pain, continuous superficial burning and/or deep aching pain. The pain can be evoked by heat-, cold-, and mechano-hyperalgesia or by heat-, cold-, or mechano-allodynia.

Neuropathic pain can be caused by injury or infection of peripheral sensory nerves. It includes, but is not limited to, pain from peripheral nerve trauma, herpes virus infection, diabetes mellitus, causalgia, plexus avulsion, neuroma, limb amputation, and vasculitis. Neuropathic pain is also caused by nerve damage from chronic alcoholism, human immunodeficiency virus infection, hypothyroidism, uremia, or vitamin deficiencies. Stroke (spinal or brain) and spinal cord injury can also induce neuropathic pain. Cancer-related neuropathic pain results from tumor growth compression of adjacent nerves, brain, or spinal cord. In addition, cancer treatments, including chemotherapy and radiation therapy, can also cause nerve injury. Neuropathic pain includes but is not limited to pain caused by nerve injury such as, for example, the pain from which diabetics suffer.

The present invention is also directed to the use of a compound represented by any of defined Formulae I-V, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, prodrug, or solvate thereof, in the manufacture of a medicament for treating a disorder responsive to the blockade of sodium channels (e.g., any of the disorders listed above) in an animal suffering from said disorder.

The present invention is also directed to the use of a compound represented by any of defined Formulae I-V, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, prodrug, or solvate thereof, in the manufacture of a medicament, in particular a medicament for modulating sodium channels, in an animal in need thereof.

General Synthesis of Compounds

Compounds of the Invention are prepared using methods known to those skilled in the art in view of this disclosure. For example, compounds of Formula II wherein R³ is —CH(OH)CH₂OH can be prepared according to General Scheme 1.

Briefly, methyl 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolane-4-carboxylate is made to react with a dibromo pyridine or pyrimidine (compound A) to give compound B. Compound B is made to react with dioxaborolane C to give compound D. Dioxaborolanes can be prepared using methods known in the art, e.g., as disclosed in U.S. Appl. No. 61/365,085. Hydrolysis of the acetonide gives a compound of Formula II. The R- and S-isomers can be prepared using (R)-methyl 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolane-4-carboxylate and (S)-methyl 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolane-4-carboxylate instead of racemic methyl 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolane-4-carboxylate.

Compounds of Formula III can be prepared according to General Scheme 2.

Briefly, dioxaborolane C is made to react with a dibromo pyridine or pyrimidine (compound A) to give compound E. Compound E is made to react with ethyl 2-oxoacetate to give a compound having Formula III wherein R⁴ is —OEt. The compound having Formula III wherein R⁴ is —OEt reacts with NH₃ to give a compound having Formula III wherein R⁴ is —NH₂.

Testing of Compounds

Representative Compounds of the present invention were assessed by sodium mobilization and/or electrophysiological assays for sodium channel blocker activity. One aspect of the present invention is based on the use of the compounds herein described as sodium channel blockers. Based upon this property, compounds of the invention are considered useful in treating a condition or disorder responsive to the blockade of sodium ion channels, e.g., stroke, neuronal damage resulting from head trauma, epilepsy, seizures, general epilepsy with febrile seizures, severe myoclonic epilepsy in infancy, neuronal loss following global and focal ischemia, migraine, familial primary erythromelalgia, paroxysmal extreme pain disorder, cerebellar atrophy, ataxia, dystonia, tremor, mental retardation, autism, a neurodegenerative disorder (e.g., Alzheimer's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or Parkinson's disease), manic depression, tinnitus, myotonia, a movement disorder, cardiac arrhythmia, or providing local anesthesia. Compounds of the Invention are also expected to be effective in treating pain, e.g., acute pain, chronic pain, which includes but is not limited to, neuropathic pain, postoperative pain, and inflammatory pain, or surgical pain.

More specifically, the present invention is directed to compounds of Formulae I-V that are blockers of sodium channels. According to the present invention, those compounds having useful sodium channel blocking properties exhibit an IC₅₀ for Na_(v)1.1, Na_(v)1.2, Na_(v)1.3, Na_(v)1.4, Na_(v)1.5, Na_(v)1.6, Na_(v)1.7, Na_(v)1.8, and/or Na_(v)1.9 of about 100 μM or less, e.g., about 50 μM or less, about 10 μM or less, about 5 μM or less, or about 1 μM or less, in sodium mobilization and/or electrophysiological assays. In certain embodiments, Compounds of the Invention exhibit an IC₅₀ for Na_(v)1.7 of 100 μM or less, about 50 μM or less, about 10 μM or less, about 5 μM or less, about 1 μM or less, about 0.5 μM or less, or about 0.1 μM or less. Compounds of the Invention can be tested for their Na⁺ channel blocking activity using methods known in the art and by the following fluorescence imaging and electrophysiological in vitro assays and/or in vivo assays.

In one embodiment, Compounds of the Invention demonstrate substantially no penetration across the CNS blood-brain barrier in a mammal. Such compounds are referred to as “peripherally restricted” as a means to designate their PNS versus CNS tissue selectivity.

In one embodiment, the PNS:CNS concentration ratio of a peripherally restricted Compound of the Invention is about 5:1, about 10:1, about 20:1, about 30:1; about 50:1; about 100:1, about 250:1, about 500:1, about 1000:1, about 5,000:1, about 10,000:1, or more. Compounds of the Invention can be tested for their ability to penetrate the central nervous system using in vitro and in vivo methods known in the art.

In Vitro Assay Protocols

FLIPR® Assays

Recombinant Na_(v)1.7 Cell Line:

In vitro assays were performed in a recombinant cell line expressing cDNA encoding the alpha subunit (Na_(v)1.7, SCN9a, PN1, NE) of human Na_(v)1.7 (Accession No. NM_002977). The cell line was provided by investigators at Yale University (Cummins et al, J. Neurosci. 18(23): 9607-9619 (1998)). For dominant selection of the Na_(v)1.7-expressing clones, the expression plasmid co-expressed the neomycin resistance gene. The cell line was constructed in the human embryonic kidney cell line, HEK293, under the influence of the CMV major late promoter, and stable clones were selected using limiting dilution cloning and antibiotic selection using the neomycin analogue, G418. Recombinant beta and gamma subunits were not introduced into this cell line. Additional cell lines expressing recombinant Na_(v)1.7 cloned from other species can also be used, alone or in combination with various beta subunits, gamma subunits or chaperones.

Non-Recombinant Cell Lines Expressing Native Na_(v)1.7:

Alternatively, in vitro assays can be performed in a cell line expressing native, non-recombinant Na_(v)1.7, such as the ND7 mouse neuroblastoma X rat dorsal root ganglion (DRG) hybrid cell line ND7/23, available from the European Cell Culture Collection (Cat. No. 92090903, Salisbury, Wiltshire, United Kingdom). The assays can also be performed in other cell lines expressing native, non-recombinant Na_(v)1.7, from various species, or in cultures of fresh or preserved sensory neurons, such as dorsal root ganglion (DRG) cells, isolated from various species. Primary screens or counter-screens of other voltage-gated sodium channels can also be performed, and the cell lines can be constructed using methods known in the art, purchased from collaborators or commercial establishments, and they can express either recombinant or native channels. The primary counter-screen is for one of the central neuronal sodium channels, Na_(v)1.2 (rBIIa), expressed in HEK293 host cells (Ilyin et al., Br. J. Pharmacol. 144:801-812 (2005)). Pharmacological profiling for these counter-screens is carried out under conditions similar to the primary or alternative Na_(v)1.7 assays described below.

Cell Maintenance:

Unless otherwise noted, cell culture reagents were purchased from Mediatech of Herndon, Va. The recombinant Na_(v)1.7/HEK293 cells were routinely cultured in growth medium consisting of Dulbecco's minimum essential medium containing 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS, Hyclone, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Logan, Utah), 100 U/mL penicillin, 100 μg/mL streptomycin, 2-4 mM L-glutamine, and 500 mg/mL G418. For natural, non-recombinant cell lines, the selective antibiotic was omitted, and additional media formulations can be applied as needed.

Assay Buffer:

The assay buffer was formulated by removing 120 mL from a 1 L bottle of fresh, sterile dH₂O (Mediatech, Herndon, Va.) and adding 100 mL of 10×HBSS that does not contain Ca⁺⁺ or Mg⁺⁺ (Gibco, Invitrogen, Grand Island, N.Y.) followed by 20 mL of 1.0 M Hepes, pH 7.3 (Fisher Scientific, BP299-100). The final buffer consisted of 20 mM Hepes, pH 7.3, 1.261 mM CaCl₂, 0.493 mM MgCl₂, 0.407 mM Mg(SO)₄, 5.33 mM KCl, 0.441 mM KH₂PO₄, 137 mM NaCl, 0.336 mM Na₂HPO₄ and 0.556 mM D-glucose (Hanks et al., Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med. 71:196 (1949)), and the simple formulation was typically the basic buffer throughout the assay (i.e., all wash and addition steps).

CoroNa™ Green AM Na⁺ Dye for Primary Fluorescence Assay:

The fluorescence indicator used in the primary fluorescence assay was the cell permeant version of CoroNa™ Green (Invitrogen, Molecular Probes, Eugene, Oreg.), a dye that emits light in the fluorescence range (Harootunian et al., J. Biol. Chem. 264(32):19458-19467 (1989)). The intensity of this emission, but not the wavelength range, is increased when the dye is exposed to Na⁺ ions, which it can bind with partial selectivity. Cells expressing Na_(v)1.7 or other sodium channels were loaded with the CoroNa™ Green dye immediately in advance of the fluorescence assay, and then, after agonist stimulation, the mobilization of Na⁺ ions was detected as the Na⁺ ions flowed from the extracellular fluid into the cytoplasm through the activated sodium channel pores. The dye was stored in the dark as a lyophilized powder, and then an aliquot was dissolved immediately before the cell loading procedure, according to the instructions of the manufacturer to a stock concentration of 10 mM in DMSO. It was then diluted in the assay buffer to a 4× concentrated working solution, so that the final concentration of dye in the cell loading buffer was 5 μM.

Membrane Potential Dye for Alternative Fluorescence Assays:

A fluorescence indicator that can be used in alternative fluorescence assays is the blue version membrane potential dye (MDS, Molecular Devices, Sunnyvale, Calif.), a dye that detects changes in molecules following a change in membrane potential. An increase in fluorescence is expected if agonist stimulation provokes a change in membrane potential. Cells expressing Na_(v)1.7 or other sodium channels are incubated with the membrane potential dye 30-60 minutes before the fluorescence assay. In the case of the KCl pre-stimulation version of the assay, the dye and all other components are washed out immediately before the assay, and the dye is then replaced. In the version lacking KCl pre-stimulation, the dye remains on the cells and is not washed out or replaced. The dye is stored in the dark as a lyophilized powder, and then an aliquot dissolved in assay buffer to form a 20×-concentrated stock solution that can be used for several weeks.

Agonists:

In the fluorescence assays, two agonists were used in combination, namely 1) veratridine; and 2) the venom from the yellow scorpion, Leiurus quinquestriatus hebraeus. Veratridine is an alkaloid small molecule that facilitates the capture of channel openings by inhibiting inactivation, and the scorpion venom is a natural preparation that includes peptide toxins selective for different subsets of voltage-gated sodium channels. These scorpion toxins inhibit the fast inactivation of their cognate target channels. Stock solutions of the agonists were prepared to 40 mM in DMSO (veratridine) and 1 mg/mL in dH₂O (scorpion venom), and then diluted to make a 4× or 2× stock (depending on the particular assay) in assay buffer, the final concentration being 100 μM (veratridine) and 10 μg/mL (scorpion venom). Both of the agonists were purchased from Sigma Aldrich, St. Louis, Mo.

Test Compounds:

Test compounds were dissolved in DMSO to yield 10 mM stock solutions. The stock solutions were further diluted using DMSO in 1:3 serial dilution steps with 10 points (10,000 μM, 3,333 μM, 1,111 μM, 370 μM, 123 μM, 41 μM, 14 μM, 4.6 μM, 1.5 μM and 0.5 μM). The stock solutions were further diluted in assay buffer (1:125) as 4× stock serial dilutions with a DMSO concentration of 0.8% (final [DMSO], in the assay, from the compounds component=0.2%), so that the compounds' final concentrations in the assay were 20 μM, 6.7 μM, 2.2 μM, 0.74 μM, 0.25 μM and 0.08 μM, 0.03 μM, 0.01 μM, 0.003 μM and 0.001 μM. If a particular test article appeared to be especially potent, then the concentration curve was adjusted, e.g., to 10-fold lower concentrations, in order to perform the dose-response in a more relevant concentration range. Compound dilutions were added during the dye-loading and pre-stimulation step, and then again during the fluorescence assay, early in the kinetic read. Compound dilutions were added in duplicate rows across the middle 80 wells of the 96-well plate, whereas the fully stimulated and the fully inhibited controls (positive and negative) were located in the top 4 side wells and the bottom 4 side wells, respectively, on the left and right sides of the assay plate.

Data Analysis:

The data were analyzed according to methods known to those skilled in the art or using the GraphPad® Prism 4.0 Program (available from GraphPad Software, San Diego, Calif.) to determine the IC₅₀ value for the test article. At least one standard reference compound was evaluated during each experiment.

FLIPR® or FLIPR^(TETRA)® Sodium Dye Assay with KCl and Test Article Pre-Incubation:

Cells were prepared by plating the recombinant HEK293 cells or other host cells expressing either recombinant or non-recombinant, native, Na_(v)1.7 alpha subunit, alone or in combination with various beta and gamma subunits at a density of ˜40,000 cells/well into a 96-well black, clear-bottom, PDL-coated plate. The assay can be adapted to 384-well or 1,536-well format, if desired, using proportionately fewer cells and less media. The plate was then incubated in growth media, with or without selective antibiotic, overnight at 37° C. at 5% CO₂, 95% humidity, in preparation for the assay. For counter-screens of other voltage-gated sodium channels, the procedure was very similar, though optimal densities of cells, media and subsequent assay components can be fine-tuned for the particular cell line or isoform.

The next day, at the start of the assay, the media was flicked from the cells and the wells were washed once with 50 μl/well assay buffer (1× Hank's balanced salt solution without sodium bicarbonate or phenol red, 20 mM Hepes, pH 7.3) and then pre-incubated with the test articles, CoroNa™ Green AM sodium dye (for cell loading) and KCl for re-polarization and synchronization of the channels in the entire population of cells. For this dye-loading and pre-stimulation step, the components were added as follows, immediately after the wash step: 1) first, the compound dilutions and controls were added as 4× concentrates in assay buffer at 50 μL/well; 2) CoroNa™ Green AM dye was diluted from the stock solution to 2 μM in assay buffer (4× concentrate) and added to the plate at 50 μL/well; and 3) finally, a solution of 180 mM KCl (2×) was prepared by diluting a 2M stock solution into assay buffer and the solution was added to the cells at 100 μl/well. The cells were incubated at 25° C. in the dark for 30 min. before their fluorescence was measured.

The plates containing dye-loaded cells were then flicked to remove the pre-incubation components and washed once with 100 μL/well assay buffer. A 100 μL/well aliquot of assay buffer was added back to the plate, and the real-time assay was commenced. The fluorescence of cells was measured using a fluorescence plate reader (FLIPR^(TETRA)® or FLIPR384®, MDS, Molecular Devices, Sunnyvale, Calif.) Samples were excited by either a laser or a PMT light source (Excitation wavelength=470-495 nM) and the emissions were filtered (Emission wavelength=515-575 nM). The additions of compound and the channel activators in this cell-based, medium-to-high throughput assay were performed on the fluorescence plate reader and the results (expressed as relative fluorescence units) were captured by means of camera shots every 1-3 sec., then displayed in real-time and stored. Generally, there was a 15 sec. base line, with camera shots taken every 1.5 sec., then the test compounds were added, then another 120 sec. baseline was conducted, with camera shots taken every 3 sec.; and finally, the agonist solution (containing veratridine and scorpion venom) was added. The amplitude of fluorescence increase, resulting from the binding of Na⁺ ions to the CoroNa™ Green dye, was captured for ˜180 sec. thereafter. Results were expressed in relative fluorescence units (RFU) and can be determined by using the maximum signal during the latter part of the stimulation; or the maximum minus the minimum during the whole agonist stimulation period; or by taking the area under the curve for the whole stimulation period.

The assay can be performed as a screening assay as well with the test articles present in standard amounts (e.g., 10 μM) in only one or two wells of a multi-well plate during the primary screen. Hits in this screen will typically be profiled more exhaustively (multiple times), subjected to dose-response or competition assays and tested in counter screens against other voltage-gate sodium channels or other biologically relevant target molecules.

FLIPR® or FLIPR^(TETRA)® Membrane Potential Assay with KCl and Test Article Pre-Incubation:

Cells are prepared by plating the recombinant HEK293 cells or other host cells expressing either recombinant or non-recombinant, native, Na_(v)1.7 alpha subunit, alone or in combination with various beta and gamma subunits at a density of ˜40,000 cells/well into a 96-well black, clear-bottom, PDL-coated plate. The assay can be adapted to 384-well or 1,536-well format, if desired, using proportionately fewer cells and less media. The plate is then incubated in growth media, with or without selective antibiotic, overnight at 37° C. at 5% CO₂, 95% humidity, in preparation for the assay (see, e.g., Benjamin et. al., J. Biomol. Screen 10(4):365-373 (2005)). For screens and counter-screens of other voltage-gated sodium channels, the assay protocol is similar, though optimal densities of cells, media and subsequent assay components can be fine-tuned for the particular cell line or sodium channel isoform being tested.

The next day, at the start of the assay, the media is flicked from the cells and the wells are washed once with 50 μL/well assay buffer (1× Hank's balanced salt solution without sodium bicarbonate or phenol red, 20 mM Hepes, pH 7.3) and then pre-incubated with the test articles, the membrane potential dye (for cell loading), and the KCl for re-polarization and synchronization of the channels in the entire population of cells. For this dye-loading and pre-stimulation step, the components are added as follows, immediately after the wash step: 1) first, the compound dilutions and controls are added as 4× concentrates in assay buffer at 50 L/well; 2) membrane potential dye is diluted from the stock solution in assay buffer (4× concentrate) and added to the plate at 50 μL/well; and 3) finally, a solution of 180 mM KCl (2×) is prepared by diluting a 2M stock solution into assay buffer and the solution added to the cells at 100 L/well. The cells are incubated at 37° C. in the dark for 30-60 min. before their fluorescence is measured.

The plates containing dye-loaded cells are then flicked to remove the pre-incubation components and washed once with 50 μL/well assay buffer. A 50 L/well aliquot of membrane potential dye is added back to the plate, and the real-time assay is commenced. The fluorescence of cells is measured using a fluorescence plate reader (FLIPR^(TETRA)® or FLIPR384®, MDS, Molecular Devices, Sunnyvale, Calif.). Samples are excited by either a laser or a PMT light source (Excitation wavelength=510-545 nM) and the emissions are filtered (Emission wavelength=565-625 nM). The additions of the compounds (first) and then the channel activators (later) in this are performed on the fluorescence plate reader and the results, expressed as relative fluorescence units (RFU), are captured by means of camera shots every 1-3 sec., then displayed in real-time and stored. Generally, there is a 15 sec. base line, with camera shots taken every 1.5 sec., then the test compounds are added, then another 120 sec. baseline is conducted, with camera shots taken every 3 sec.; and finally, the agonist solution (containing veratridine and scorpion venom) is added. The amplitude of fluorescence increase, resulting from the detection of membrane potential change, is captured for ˜120 sec. thereafter. Results are expressed in relative fluorescence units (RFU) and can be determined by using the maximum signal during the latter part of the stimulation; or the maximum minus the minimum during the whole stimulation period; or by taking the area under the curve for the whole stimulation period.

The assay can be performed as a screening assay as well with the test articles present in standard amounts (e.g., 10 μM) in only one or two wells of a multi-well plate during the primary screen. Hits in this screen are typically profiled more exhaustively (multiple times), subjected to dose-response or competition assays and tested in counter screens against other voltage-gate sodium channels or other biologically relevant target molecules.

FLIPR® or FLIPR^(TETRA)® Sodium Dye Assay without KCl and Test Article Pre-Incubation:

Cells are prepared by plating the recombinant HEK293 cells or other host cells expressing either recombinant or non-recombinant, native, Na_(v)1.7 alpha subunit, alone or in combination with various beta and gamma subunits at a density of ˜40,000 cells/well into a 96-well black, clear-bottom, PDL-coated plate. The assay can be adapted to 384-well or 1,536-well format, if desired, using proportionately fewer cells and less media. The plate is then incubated in growth media, with or without selective antibiotic, overnight at 37° C. at 5% CO₂, 95% humidity, in preparation for the assay. For counter-screens of other voltage-gated sodium channels, the procedure is very similar, though optimal densities of cells, media and subsequent assay components can be fine-tuned for the particular cell line or isoform.

The next day, at the start of the assay, the media is flicked from the cells and the wells washed once with 50 L/well assay buffer (1× Hank's balanced salt solution without sodium bicarbonate or phenol red, 20 mM Hepes, pH 7.3). Membrane potential dye is then added to each well of the 96-well plate (50 L/well), from a freshly diluted sample of the stock (now at 4× concentration) in the assay buffer. The cells are incubated at 37° C. in the dark for 30-60 min. before their fluorescence is measured.

In this standard membrane potential assay, the 96-well plate containing dye-loaded cells is then loaded directly onto the plate reader without aspirating the dye solution and without any further washing of the cells. The fluorescence of cells is measured using a fluorescence plate reader (FLIPR^(TETRA)® or FLIPR384®, MDS, Molecular Devices, Sunnyvale, Calif.). Samples are excited by either a laser or a PMT light source (Excitation wavelength=510-545 nM) and the emissions are filtered (Emission wavelength=565-625 nM). The additions of the compounds (first, 50 μL/well from a 4× stock plate) and then the channel activators (later, 100 μL/well from a 2× stock solution) in this kinetic assay are performed on the fluorescence plate reader and the results, expressed as relative fluorescence units (RFU), are captured by means of camera shots every 1-3 sec., then displayed in real-time and stored. Generally, there is a 15 sec. base line, with camera shots taken every 1.5 sec., then the test compounds are added, then another 120 sec. baseline is conducted, with camera shots taken every 3 sec.; and finally, the agonist solution (containing veratridine and scorpion venom) is added. The amplitude of fluorescence increase, resulting from the detection of membrane potential change, is captured for ˜120 sec. thereafter. Results are expressed in relative fluorescence units (RFU) and can be determined by using the maximum signal during the latter part of the stimulation; or the maximum minus the minimum during the whole stimulation period; or by taking the area under the curve for the whole stimulation period.

The assay can be performed as a screening assay as well, with the test articles present in standard amounts (e.g. 10 μM) in only one or two wells of a multi-well plate during the primary screen. Hits in this screen are typically profiled more exhaustively (multiple times), subjected to dose-response or competition assays and tested in counter screens against other voltage-gate sodium channels or other biologically relevant target molecules.

Electrophysiology Assay

Cells:

The hNa_(v)1.7 expressing HEK-293 cells are plated on 35 mm culture dishes pre-coated with poly-D-lysine in standard DMEM culture media (Mediatech, Inc., Herndon, Va.) and incubated in a 5% CO₂ incubator at 37° C. Cultured cells are used approximately 12-48 hours after plating.

Electrophysiology:

On the day of experimentation, the 35 mm dish is placed on the stage of an inverted microscope equipped with a perfusion system that continuously perfuses the culture dish with fresh recording media. A gravity driven superfusion system is used to apply test solutions directly to the cell under evaluation. This system consists of an array of glass pipette connected to a motorized horizontal translator. The outlet of the shooter is positioned approximately 100 μm from the cell of interest.

Whole cell currents are recorded using the whole-cell patch clamp configuration using an Axopatch 200B amplifier (Axon Instruments, Foster City Calif.), 1322A A/D converter (Axon Instruments) and pClamp software (v. 8; Axon Instruments) and stored on a personal computer. Gigaseals are formed and the whole-cell configuration is established in voltage clamp mode, and membrane currents generated by hNa_(v)1.7 are recorded in gap-free mode. Borosilicate glass pipettes have resistance values between 1.5 and 2.0 MΩ when filled with pipette solution and series resistance (<5 MO) was compensated 75-80%. Signals are sampled at 50 kHz and low pass filtered at 3 kHz.

Voltage Protocols:

After establishing the whole-cell configuration in voltage clamp mode, voltage protocols are run to establish the 1) test potential, 2) holding potential, and 3) the conditioning potential for each cell.

After establishing the whole-cell configuration in voltage clamp mode, a standard I-V protocol is run to determine the potential at which the maximal current (I_(max)) is elicited. This potential is the test potential (V_(t)). To determine a conditioning potential at which 100% of channels are in the inactivated state, a standard steady-state inactivation (SSIN) protocol is run using a series of fifteen 100 ms-long depolarizing prepulses, incrementing in 10 mV steps, immediately followed by a 5 ms testing pulse, V_(t), to V_(max). This protocol also permits determination of the holding potential at which all channels are in the resting state.

For compounds causing significant retardation of recovery from inactivation, an estimate of the affinity for the inactivated state of the channel (K_(i)) is generated using the following protocol. From the negative, no residual inactivation, holding potential, the cell is depolarized to the conditioning voltage for 2-5 seconds, returned to the negative holding potential for 10-20 ms to relieve fast inactivation and then depolarized to the test potential for ˜15 ms. This voltage protocol is repeated every 10-15 seconds, first to establish a baseline in the absence of the test compound, then in the presence of the test compound.

After a stable baseline is established, the test compound is applied and block of the current elicited by the test pulse assessed. In some cases, multiple cumulative concentrations are applied to identify a concentration that blocked between 40-60% of this current. Washout of the compound is attempted by superfusing with control solution once steady-state block is observed. An estimate of the K, is calculated as follows: K _(i)[drug]*{FR/(1−FR)},  Eq. 1

where [drug] is the concentration of a drug, and FR=I(after drug)/I(control),  Eq. 2 where I is the peak current amplitude. If multiple concentrations were used, K_(i) is determined from the fit of a logistic equation to FRs plotted against corresponding drug concentrations.

In the alternative, the voltage clamp protocol to examine hNa_(v)1.7 currents is as follows. First, the standard current-voltage relationship was tested by pulsing the cell from the holding voltage (V_(h)) of −120 mV by a series of 5 msec long square-shaped test pulses incrementing in +10 mV steps over the membrane voltage range of −90 mV to +60 mV at the pace of stimulation of 0.5 Hz. This procedure determines the voltage that elicits the maximal current (V_(max)). Second, V_(h) is re-set to −120 mV and a steady-state inactivation (SSIN) curve is taken by the standard double-pulse protocol: 100 ms depolarizing pre-pulse was incremented in steps of +10 mV (voltage range from −90 mV to 0 mV) immediately followed by the 5 ms long test pulse to −10 mV at the pace of stimulation of 0.2 Hz. This procedure determines the voltage of full inactivation (V_(full)). Third, the cell is repeatedly stimulated with the following protocol, first in the absence of the test compound then in its presence. The protocol consists of depolarizing the cell from the holding potential of −120 mV to the V_(full) value for 4.5 seconds then repolarizing the cell to the holding potential for 10 ms before applying the test pulse to the V_(max) for 5 ms. The amount of inhibition produced by the test compound is determined by comparing the current amplitude elicited by the test pulse in the absence and presence of the compound.

In a further alternative, the voltage clamp protocol to examine hNa_(v)1.7 currents is as follows. After establishing the whole-cell configuration in voltage clamp mode, two voltage protocols were run to establish: 1) the holding potential; and 2) the test potential for each cell.

Resting Block:

To determine a membrane potential at which the majority of channels are in the resting state, a standard steady-state inactivation (SSIN) protocol is run using 100 ms prepulses×10 mV depolarizing steps. The holding potential for testing resting block (Vh₁) is typically 20 mV more hyperpolarized than the first potential where inactivation is observed with the inactivation protocol.

From this holding potential a standard I-V protocol is run to determine the potential at which the maximal current (Imax) is elicited. This potential is the test potential (Vt).

The compound testing protocol is a series of 10 ms depolarizations from the Vh₁ (determined from the SSIN) to the Vt (determined from the I-V protocol) repeated every 10-15 seconds. After a stable baseline is established, a high concentration of a test compound (highest concentration solubility permits or that which provides ˜50% block) is applied and block of the current assessed. Washout of the compound is attempted by superfusing with control solution once steady-state block was observed. The fractional response is calculated as follows: K _(r)=[drug]*{FR/(1−FR)},  Eq. 3 where [drug] is the concentration of a drug, and FR=I(after drug)/I(control),  Eq. 2 where I is the peak current amplitude and was used for estimating resting block dissociation constant, K_(r).

Block of Inactivated Channels:

To assess the block of inactivated channels the holding potential is depolarized such that 20-50% of the current amplitude is reduced when pulsed to the same Vt as above. The magnitude of this depolarization depends upon the initial current amplitude and the rate of current loss due to slow inactivation. This is the second holding potential (Vh₂). The current reduction is recorded to determine the fraction of available channels at this potential (h). h=I@Vh ₂ /Imax.  Eq. 4

At this membrane voltage a proportion of channels was in the inactivated state, and thus inhibition by a blocker includes interaction with both resting and inactivated channels.

To determine the potency of the test compound on inactivated channels, a series of currents are elicited by 10 ms voltage steps from Vh₂ to V_(t) every 10-15 seconds. After establishing a stable baseline, the low concentration of the compound is applied. In some cases, multiple cumulative concentrations will have to be applied to identify a concentration that blocks between 40-60% of the current. Washout is attempted to re-establish baseline. Fractional responses are measured with respect to a projected baseline to determine K_(app). K _(app)=[drug]*{FR/(1−FR)},  Eq. 5 where [drug] is the concentration of a drug.

This K_(app) value, along with the calculated K_(r) and h values, are used to calculate the affinity of the compound for the inactivated channels (K_(i)) using the following equation: K _(i)=(1−h)/((1/K _(app))−(h/K _(r))).  Eq. 6

Solutions and Chemicals:

For electrophysiological recordings the external solution is either standard, DMEM supplemented with 10 mM HEPES (pH adjusted to 7.34 with NaOH and the osmolarity adjusted to 320) or Tyrodes salt solution (Sigma, USA) supplemented with 10 mM HEPES (pH adjusted to 7.4 with NaOH; osmolarity=320). The internal pipette solution contains (in mM): NaCl (10), CsF (140), CaCl₂ (1), MgCl₂ (5), EGTA (11), HEPES (10: pH 7.4, 305 mOsm). Compounds are prepared first as series of stock solutions in DMSO and then dissolved in external solution; DMSO content in final dilutions did not exceed 0.3%. At this concentration, DMSO does not affect sodium currents. Vehicle solution used to establish base line also contains 0.3% DMSO.

Data Analysis:

Data is analyzed off-line using Clampfit software (pClamp, v.8; Axon Instruments) and graphed using GraphPad Prizm (v. 4.0) software.

In Vivo Assay for Pain

The compounds can be tested for their antinociceptive activity in the formalin model as described in Hunskaar et al., J. Neurosci. Methods 14: 69-76 (1985). Male Swiss Webster NIH mice (20-30 g; Harlan, San Diego, Calif.) can be used in all experiments. Food is withdrawn on the day of experiment. Mice are placed in Plexiglass jars for at least 1 hour to acclimate to the environment. Following the acclimation period, mice are weighed and given either the compound of interest administered i.p. or p.o., or the appropriate volume of vehicle (for example, 10% Tween-80 or 0.9% saline, and other pharmaceutically acceptable vehicles) as control. Fifteen minutes after the i.p. dosing, and 30 minutes after the p.o. dosing mice are injected with formalin (20 μL of 5% formaldehyde solution in saline) into the dorsal surface of the right hind paw. Mice are transferred to the Plexiglass jars and monitored for the amount of time spent licking or biting the injected paw. Periods of licking and biting are recorded in 5-minute intervals for 1 hour after the formalin injection. All experiments are done in a blinded manner during the light cycle. The early phase of the formalin response is measured as licking/biting between 0-5 minutes, and the late phase is measured from 15-50 minutes. Differences between vehicle and drug treated groups can be analyzed by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). A P value<0.05 is considered significant. Compounds are considered to be efficacious for treating acute and chronic pain if they have activity in blocking both the early and second phase of formalin-induced paw-licking activity.

In Vivo Assays for Inflammatory or Neuropathic Pain

Test Animals:

Each experiment uses rats weighing between 200-260 g at the start of the experiment. The rats are group-housed and have free access to food and water at all times, except prior to oral administration of a test compound when food is removed for 16 hours before dosing. A control group acts as a comparison to rats treated with a compound of Formulae I-V. The control group is administered the carrier as used for the test compound. The volume of carrier administered to the control group is the same as the volume of carrier and test compound administered to the test group.

Inflammatory Pain: To assess the actions of the compounds of Formulae I-V on the treatment of inflammatory pain the Freund's complete adjuvant (“FCA”) model of inflammatory pain is used. FCA-induced inflammation of the rat hind paw is associated with the development of persistent inflammatory mechanical and thermal hyperalgesia and provides reliable prediction of the anti-hyperalgesic action of clinically useful analgesic drugs (Bartho et al., Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Archives of Pharmacol. 342:666-670 (1990)). The left hind paw of each animal is administered a 50 μL intraplantar injection of 50% FCA. 24 hour post injection, the animal is assessed for response to noxious mechanical stimuli by determining the paw withdrawal threshold (PWT), or to noxious thermal stimuli by determining the paw withdrawal latency (PWL), as described below. Rats are then administered a single injection of either a test compound or 30 mg/Kg of a positive control compound (indomethacin). Responses to noxious mechanical or thermal stimuli are then determined 1, 3, 5 and 24 hours post administration (admin). Percentage reversal of hyperalgesia for each animal is defined as:

${\%\mspace{14mu}{reversal}} = {\frac{\begin{bmatrix} {\left( {{post}\mspace{14mu}{administration}\mspace{14mu} P\; W\; T\mspace{14mu}{or}\mspace{14mu} P\; W\; L} \right) -} \\ \left( {{pre}\text{-}{administration}\mspace{14mu} P\; W\; T\mspace{14mu}{or}\mspace{14mu} P\; W\; L} \right) \end{bmatrix}}{\begin{bmatrix} {\left( {{baseline}\mspace{14mu} P\; W\; T\mspace{14mu}{or}\mspace{14mu} P\; W\; L} \right) -} \\ \left( {{pre}\text{-}{administration}\mspace{14mu} P\; W\; T\mspace{14mu}{or}\mspace{14mu} P\; W\; L} \right) \end{bmatrix}} \times 100}$

Neuropathic Pain:

To assess the actions of the test compounds for the treatment of neuropathic pain the Seltzer model or the Chung model can be used. In the Seltzer model, the partial sciatic nerve ligation model of neuropathic pain is used to produce neuropathic hyperalgesia in rats (Seltzer et al., Pain 43:205-218 (1990)). Partial ligation of the left sciatic nerve is performed under isoflurane/O₂ inhalation anesthesia. Following induction of anesthesia, the left thigh of the rat is shaved and the sciatic nerve exposed at high thigh level through a small incision and is carefully cleared of surrounding connective tissues at a site near the trocanther just distal to the point at which the posterior biceps semitendinosus nerve branches off of the common sciatic nerve. A 7-0 silk suture is inserted into the nerve with a ⅜ curved, reversed-cutting mini-needle and tightly ligated so that the dorsal ⅓ to ½ of the nerve thickness is held within the ligature. The wound is closed with a single muscle suture (4-0 nylon (Vicryl)) and vetbond tissue glue. Following surgery, the wound area is dusted with antibiotic powder. Sham-treated rats undergo an identical surgical procedure except that the sciatic nerve is not manipulated. Following surgery, animals are weighed and placed on a warm pad until they recover from anesthesia. Animals are then returned to their home cages until behavioral testing begins. The animals are assessed for response to noxious mechanical stimuli by determining PWT, as described below, prior to surgery (baseline), then immediately prior to and 1, 3, and 5 hours after drug administration for rear paw of the animal. Percentage reversal of neuropathic hyperalgesia is defined as:

${\%\mspace{14mu}{reversal}} = {\frac{\left\lbrack {\left( {{post}\mspace{14mu}{administration}\mspace{14mu} P\; W\; T} \right) - \left( {{pre}\text{-}{administration}\mspace{14mu} P\; W\; T} \right)} \right\rbrack}{\left\lbrack {\left( {{baseline}\mspace{14mu} P\; W\; T} \right) - \left( {{pre}\text{-}{administration}\mspace{14mu} P\; W\; T} \right)} \right\rbrack} \times 100.}$

In the Chung model, the spinal nerve ligation model of neuropathic pain is used to produce mechanical hyperalgesia, thermal hyperalgesia and tactile allodynia in rats. Surgery is performed under isoflurane/O₂ inhalation anesthesia. Following induction of anesthesia a 3 cm incision is made and the left paraspinal muscles are separated from the spinous process at the L₄-S₂ levels. The L₆ transverse process is carefully removed with a pair of small rongeurs to identify visually the L₄-L₆ spinal nerves. The left L₅ (or L₅ and L₆) spinal nerve(s) is (are) isolated and tightly ligated with silk thread. A complete hemostasis is confirmed and the wound is sutured using non-absorbable sutures, such as nylon sutures or stainless steel staples. Sham-treated rats undergo an identical surgical procedure except that the spinal nerve(s) is (are) not manipulated. Following surgery animals are weighed, administered a subcutaneous (s.c.) injection of saline or ringers lactate, the wound area is dusted with antibiotic powder and they are kept on a warm pad until they recover from the anesthesia. Animals are then returned to their home cages until behavioral testing begins. The animals are assessed for response to noxious mechanical stimuli by determining PWT, as described below, prior to surgery (baseline), then immediately prior to and 1, 3, and 5 hours after being administered a compound of Formulae I-V for the left rear paw of the animal. The animals can also be assessed for response to noxious thermal stimuli or for tactile allodynia, as described below. The Chung model for neuropathic pain is described in Kim et al., Pain 50(3):355-363 (1992).

Tactile Allodynia:

Sensitivity to non-noxious mechanical stimuli can be measured in animals to assess tactile allodynia. Rats are transferred to an elevated testing cage with a wire mesh floor and allowed to acclimate for five to ten minutes. A series of von Frey monofilaments are applied to the plantar surface of the hindpaw to determine the animal's withdrawal threshold. The first filament used possesses a buckling weight of 9.1 gms (0.96 log value) and is applied up to five times to see if it elicits a withdrawal response. If the animal has a withdrawal response, then the next lightest filament in the series would be applied up to five times to determine if it also could elicit a response. This procedure is repeated with subsequent lesser filaments until there is no response and the identity of the lightest filament that elicits a response is recorded. If the animal does not have a withdrawal response from the initial 9.1 gms filament, then subsequent filaments of increased weight are applied until a filament elicits a response and the identity of this filament is recorded. For each animal, three measurements are made at every time point to produce an average withdrawal threshold determination. Tests can be performed prior to, and at 1, 2, 4 and 24 hours post drug administration.

Mechanical Hyperalgesia:

Sensitivity to noxious mechanical stimuli can be measured in animals using the paw pressure test to assess mechanical hyperalgesia. In rats, hind paw withdrawal thresholds (“PWT”), measured in grams, in response to a noxious mechanical stimulus are determined using an analgesymeter (Model 7200, commercially available from Ugo Basile of Italy), as described in Stein (Biochemistry & Behavior 31: 451-455 (1988)). The rat's paw is placed on a small platform, and weight is applied in a graded manner up to a maximum of 250 grams. The endpoint is taken as the weight at which the paw is completely withdrawn. PWT is determined once for each rat at each time point. PWT can be measured only in the injured paw, or in both the injured and non-injured paw. In one non-limiting embodiment, mechanical hyperalgesia associated with nerve injury induced pain (neuropathic pain) can be assessed in rats. Rats are tested prior to surgery to determine a baseline, or normal, PWT. Rats are tested again 2 to 3 weeks post-surgery, prior to, and at different times after (e.g. 1, 3, 5 and 24 hr) drug administration. An increase in PWT following drug administration indicates that the test compound reduces mechanical hyperalgesia.

In Vivo Assay for Anticonvulsant Activity

Compounds of the Invention can be tested for in vivo anticonvulsant activity after i.v., p.o., or i.p. injection using any of a number of anticonvulsant tests in mice, including the maximum electroshock seizure test (MES). Maximum electroshock seizures are induced in male NSA mice weighing between 15-20 g and in male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing between 200-225 g by application of current (for mice: 50 mA, 60 pulses/sec, 0.8 msec pulse width, 1 sec duration, D.C.; for rats: 99 mA, 125 pulses/sec, 0.8 msec pulse width, 2 sec duration, D.C.) using a Ugo Basile ECT device (Model 7801). Mice are restrained by gripping the loose skin on their dorsal surface and saline-coated corneal electrodes are held lightly against the two corneae. Rats are allowed free movement on the bench top and ear-clip electrodes are used. Current is applied and animals are observed for a period of up to 30 seconds for the occurrence of a tonic hindlimb extensor response. A tonic seizure is defined as a hindlimb extension in excess of 90 degrees from the plane of the body. Results can be treated in a quantal manner.

Pharmaceutical Compositions

Although a Compound of the Invention can be administered to a mammal in the form of a raw chemical without any other components present, the compound is preferably administered as part of a pharmaceutical composition containing the compound combined with a suitable pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. Such a carrier can be selected from pharmaceutically acceptable excipients and auxiliaries.

Pharmaceutical compositions within the scope of the present invention include all compositions where a Compound of the Invention is combined with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. In one embodiment, the compound is present in the composition in an amount that is effective to achieve its intended therapeutic purpose. While individual needs may vary, a determination of optimal ranges of effective amounts of each compound is within the skill of the art. Typically, a compound can be administered to a mammal, e.g., a human, orally at a dose of from about 0.0025 to about 1500 mg per kg body weight of the mammal, or an equivalent amount of a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, prodrug, or solvate thereof, per day to treat the particular disorder. A useful oral dose of a Compound of the Invention administered to a mammal is from about 0.0025 to about 50 mg per kg body weight of the mammal, or an equivalent amount of the pharmaceutically acceptable salt, prodrug, or solvate thereof. For intramuscular injection, the dose is typically about one-half of the oral dose.

A unit oral dose may comprise from about 0.01 to about 50 mg, and preferably about 0.1 to about 10 mg, of the compound. The unit dose can be administered one or more times daily, e.g., as one or more tablets or capsules, each containing from about 0.01 to about 50 mg of the compound, or an equivalent amount of a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, prodrug or solvate thereof.

A pharmaceutical composition of the present invention can be administered to any animal that may experience the beneficial effects of a Compound of the Invention. Foremost among such animals are mammals, e.g., humans and companion animals, although the invention is not intended to be so limited.

A pharmaceutical composition of the present invention can be administered by any means that achieves its intended purpose. For example, administration can be by the oral, parenteral, subcutaneous, intravenous, intramuscular, intraperitoneal, transdermal, intranasal, transmucosal, rectal, intravaginal or buccal route, or by inhalation. The dosage administered and route of administration will vary, depending upon the circumstances of the particular subject, and taking into account such factors as age, gender, health, and weight of the recipient, condition or disorder to be treated, kind of concurrent treatment, if any, frequency of treatment, and the nature of the effect desired.

In one embodiment, a pharmaceutical composition of the present invention can be administered orally and is formulated into tablets, dragees, capsules or an oral liquid preparation. In one embodiment, the oral formulation comprises extruded multiparticulates comprising the Compound of the Invention.

Alternatively, a pharmaceutical composition of the present invention can be administered rectally, and is formulated in suppositories.

Alternatively, a pharmaceutical composition of the present invention can be administered by injection.

Alternatively, a pharmaceutical composition of the present invention can be administered transdermally.

Alternatively, a pharmaceutical composition of the present invention can be administered by inhalation or by intranasal or transmucosal administration.

Alternatively, a pharmaceutical composition of the present invention can be administered by the intravaginal route.

A pharmaceutical composition of the present invention can contain from about 0.01 to 99 percent by weight, and preferably from about 0.25 to 75 percent by weight, of active compound(s).

A method of the present invention, such as a method for treating a disorder responsive to the blockade of sodium channels in an animal in need thereof, can further comprise administering a second therapeutic agent to the animal in combination with a Compound of the Invention. In one embodiment, the other therapeutic agent is administered in an effective amount.

Effective amounts of the other therapeutic agents are known to those skilled in the art. However, it is well within the skilled artisan's purview to determine the other therapeutic agent's optimal effective-amount range.

A Compound of the Invention (i.e., the first therapeutic agent) and the second therapeutic agent can act additively or, in one embodiment, synergistically. Alternatively, the second therapeutic agent can be used to treat a disorder or condition that is different from the disorder or condition for which the first therapeutic agent is being administered, and which disorder or condition may or may not be a condition or disorder as defined herein. In one embodiment, a Compound of the Invention is administered concurrently with a second therapeutic agent; for example, a single composition comprising both an effective amount of a compound of any of Formulae I-V, and an effective amount of the second therapeutic agent can be administered. Accordingly, the present invention further provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising a combination of a Compound of the Invention, the second therapeutic agent, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. Alternatively, a first pharmaceutical composition comprising an effective amount of a compound of any of Formulae I-V and a second pharmaceutical composition comprising an effective amount of the second therapeutic agent can be concurrently administered. In another embodiment, an effective amount of a Compound of the Invention is administered prior or subsequent to administration of an effective amount of the second therapeutic agent. In this embodiment, the Compound of the Invention is administered while the second therapeutic agent exerts its therapeutic effect, or the second therapeutic agent is administered while the Compound of the Invention exerts its therapeutic effect for treating a disorder or condition.

The second therapeutic agent can be an opioid agonist, a non-opioid analgesic, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent, an antimigraine agent, a Cox-II inhibitor, a β-adrenergic blocker, an anticonvulsant, an antidepressant, an anticancer agent, an agent for treating addictive disorder, an agent for treating Parkinson's disease and parkinsonism, an agent for treating anxiety, an agent for treating epilepsy, an agent for treating a seizure, an agent for treating a stroke, an agent for treating a pruritic condition, an agent for treating psychosis, an agent for treating ALS, an agent for treating a cognitive disorder, an agent for treating a migraine, an agent for treating vomiting, an agent for treating dyskinesia, or an agent for treating depression, or a mixture thereof.

Examples of useful opioid agonists include, but are not limited to, alfentanil, allylprodine, alphaprodine, anileridine, benzylmorphine, bezitramide, buprenorphine, butorphanol, clonitazene, codeine, desomorphine, dextromoramide, dezocine, diampromide, diamorphone, dihydrocodeine, dihydromorphine, dimenoxadol, dimepheptanol, dimethylthiambutene, dioxaphetyl butyrate, dipipanone, eptazocine, ethoheptazine, ethylmethylthiambutene, ethylmorphine, etonitazene, fentanyl, heroin, hydrocodone, hydromorphone, hydroxypethidine, isomethadone, ketobemidone, levorphanol, levophenacylmorphan, lofentanil, meperidine, meptazinol, metazocine, methadone, metopon, morphine, myrophine, nalbuphine, narceine, nicomorphine, norlevorphanol, normethadone, nalorphine, normorphine, norpipanone, opium, oxycodone, oxymorphone, papaveretum, pentazocine, phenadoxone, phenomorphan, phenazocine, phenoperidine, piminodine, piritramide, proheptazine, promedol, properidine, propiram, propoxyphene, sufentanil, tilidine, tramadol, pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, and mixtures thereof.

In certain embodiments, the opioid agonist is selected from codeine, hydromorphone, hydrocodone, oxycodone, dihydrocodeine, dihydromorphine, morphine, tramadol, oxymorphone, pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, and mixtures thereof.

Examples of useful non-opioid analgesics include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents, such as aspirin, ibuprofen, diclofenac, naproxen, benoxaprofen, flurbiprofen, fenoprofen, flubufen, ketoprofen, indoprofen, piroprofen, carprofen, oxaprozin, pramoprofen, muroprofen, trioxaprofen, suprofen, aminoprofen, tiaprofenic acid, fluprofen, bucloxic acid, indomethacin, sulindac, tolmetin, zomepirac, tiopinac, zidometacin, acemetacin, fentiazac, clidanac, oxpinac, mefenamic acid, meclofenamic acid, flufenamic acid, niflumic acid, tolfenamic acid, diflurisal, flufenisal, piroxicam, sudoxicam, isoxicam, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, and mixtures thereof. Examples of other suitable non-opioid analgesics include the following, non limiting, chemical classes of analgesic, antipyretic, nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs: salicylic acid derivatives, including aspirin, sodium salicylate, choline magnesium trisalicylate, salsalate, diflunisal, salicylsalicylic acid, sulfasalazine, and olsalazin; para aminophennol derivatives including acetaminophen and phenacetin; indole and indene acetic acids, including indomethacin, sulindac, and etodolac; heteroaryl acetic acids, including tolmetin, diclofenac, and ketorolac; anthranilic acids (fenamates), including mefenamic acid, and meclofenamic acid; enolic acids, including oxicams (piroxicam, tenoxicam), and pyrazolidinediones (phenylbutazone, oxyphenthartazone); and alkanones, including nabumetone. For a more detailed description of the NSAIDs, see Paul A. Insel, Analgesic Antipyretic and Antiinflammatory Agents and Drugs Employed in the Treatment of Gout, in Goodman & Gilman's The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics 617-57 (Perry B. Molinhoff and Raymond W. Ruddon eds., 9th ed 1996) and Glen R. Hanson, Analgesic, Antipyretic and Anti Inflammatory Drugs in Remington: The Science and Practice of Pharmacy Vol. II 1196-1221 (A. R. Gennaro ed. 19th ed. 1995) which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties. Suitable Cox-II inhibitors and 5-lipoxygenase inhibitors, as well as combinations thereof, are described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,136,839, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. Examples of useful Cox II inhibitors include, but are not limited to, rofecoxib and celecoxib.

Examples of useful antimigraine agents include, but are not limited to, alpiropride, bromocriptine, dihydroergotamine, dolasetron, ergocornine, ergocorninine, ergocryptine, ergonovine, ergot, ergotamine, flumedroxone acetate, fonazine, ketanserin, lisuride, lomerizine, methylergonovine, methysergide, metoprolol, naratriptan, oxetorone, pizotyline, propranolol, risperidone, rizatriptan, sumatriptan, timolol, trazodone, zolmitriptan, and mixtures thereof.

Examples of useful β-adrenergic blockers include, but are not limited to, acebutolol, alprenolol, amosulabol, arotinolol, atenolol, befunolol, betaxolol, bevantolol, bisoprolol, bopindolol, bucumolol, bufetolol, bufuralol, bunitrolol, bupranolol, butidrine hydrochloride, butofilolol, carazolol, carteolol, carvedilol, celiprolol, cetamolol, cloranolol, dilevalol, epanolol, esmolol, indenolol, labetalol, levobunolol, mepindolol, metipranolol, metoprolol, moprolol, nadolol, nadoxolol, nebivalol, nifenalol, nipradilol, oxprenolol, penbutolol, pindolol, practolol, pronethalol, propranolol, sotalol, sulfinalol, talinolol, tertatolol, tilisolol, timolol, toliprolol, and xibenolol.

Examples of useful anticonvulsants include, but are not limited to, acetylpheneturide, albutoin, aloxidone, aminoglutethimide, 4-amino-3-hydroxybutyric acid, atrolactamide, beclamide, buramate, calcium bromide, carbamazepine, cinromide, clomethiazole, clonazepam, decimemide, diethadione, dimethadione, doxenitroin, eterobarb, ethadione, ethosuximide, ethotoin, felbamate, fluoresone, gabapentin, 5-hydroxytryptophan, lamotrigine, magnesium bromide, magnesium sulfate, mephenytoin, mephobarbital, metharbital, methetoin, methsuximide, 5-methyl-5-(3-phenanthryl)-hydantoin, 3-methyl-5-phenylhydantoin, narcobarbital, nimetazepam, nitrazepam, oxcarbazepine, paramethadione, phenacemide, phenetharbital, pheneturide, phenobarbital, phensuximide, phenylmethylbarbituric acid, phenytoin, phethenylate sodium, potassium bromide, pregabaline, primidone, progabide, sodium bromide, solanum, strontium bromide, suclofenide, sulthiame, tetrantoin, tiagabine, topiramate, trimethadione, valproic acid, valpromide, vigabatrin, and zonisamide.

Examples of useful antidepressants include, but are not limited to, binedaline, caroxazone, citalopram, (S)-citalopram, dimethazan, fencamine, indalpine, indeloxazine hydrocholoride, nefopam, nomifensine, oxitriptan, oxypertine, paroxetine, sertraline, thiazesim, trazodone, benmoxine, iproclozide, iproniazid, isocarboxazid, nialamide, octamoxin, phenelzine, cotinine, rolicyprine, rolipram, maprotiline, metralindole, mianserin, mirtazepine, adinazolam, amitriptyline, amitriptylinoxide, amoxapine, butriptyline, clomipramine, demexiptiline, desipramine, dibenzepin, dimetacrine, dothiepin, doxepin, fluacizine, imipramine, imipramine N-oxide, iprindole, lofepramine, melitracen, metapramine, nortriptyline, noxiptilin, opipramol, pizotyline, propizepine, protriptyline, quinupramine, tianeptine, trimipramine, adrafinil, benactyzine, bupropion, butacetin, dioxadrol, duloxetine, etoperidone, febarbamate, femoxetine, fenpentadiol, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, hematoporphyrin, hypericin, levophacetoperane, medifoxamine, milnacipran, minaprine, moclobemide, nefazodone, oxaflozane, piberaline, prolintane, pyrisuccideanol, ritanserin, roxindole, rubidium chloride, sulpiride, tandospirone, thozalinone, tofenacin, toloxatone, tranylcypromine, L-tryptophan, venlafaxine, viloxazine, and zimeldine.

Examples of useful anticancer agents include, but are not limited to, acivicin, aclarubicin, acodazole hydrochloride, acronine, adozelesin, aldesleukin, altretamine, ambomycin, ametantrone acetate, aminoglutethimide, amsacrine, anastrozole, anthramycin, asparaginase, asperlin, azacitidine, azetepa, azotomycin, batimastat, benzodepa, bicalutamide, bisantrene hydrochloride, bisnafide dimesylate, bizelesin, bleomycin sulfate, brequinar sodium, bropirimine, busulfan, cactinomycin, calusterone, caracemide, carbetimer, carboplatin, carmustine, carubicin hydrochloride, carzelesin, cedefingol, chlorambucil, cirolemycin, and cisplatin.

Therapeutic agents useful for treating an addictive disorder include, but are not limited to, methadone, desipramine, amantadine, fluoxetine, buprenorphine, an opiate agonist, 3-phenoxypyridine, or a serotonin antagonist.

Examples of useful therapeutic agents for treating Parkinson's disease and parkinsonism include, but are not limited to, carbidopa/levodopa, pergolide, bromocriptine, ropinirole, pramipexole, entacapone, tolcapone, selegiline, amantadine, and trihexyphenidyl hydrochloride.

Examples of useful therapeutic agents for treating anxiety include, but are not limited to, benzodiazepines, such as alprazolam, brotizolam, chlordiazepoxide, clobazam, clonazepam, clorazepate, demoxepam, diazepam, estazolam, flumazenil, flurazepam, halazepam, lorazepam, midazolam, nitrazepam, nordazepam, oxazepam, prazepam, quazepam, temazepam, and triazolam; non-benzodiazepine agents, such as buspirone, gepirone, ipsapirone, tiospirone, zolpicone, zolpidem, and zaleplon; tranquilizers, such as barbituates, e.g., amobarbital, aprobarbital, butabarbital, butalbital, mephobarbital, methohexital, pentobarbital, phenobarbital, secobarbital, and thiopental; and propanediol carbamates, such as meprobamate and tybamate.

Examples of useful therapeutic agents for treating epilepsy or seizure include, but are not limited to, carbamazepine, ethosuximide, gabapentin, lamotrigine, phenobarbital, phenytoin, primidone, valproic acid, trimethadione, benzodiazepines, gamma-vinyl GABA, acetazolamide, and felbamate.

Examples of useful therapeutic agents for treating stroke include, but are not limited to, anticoagulants such as heparin, agents that break up clots such as streptokinase or tissue plasminogen activator, agents that reduce swelling such as mannitol or corticosteroids, and acetylsalicylic acid.

Examples of useful therapeutic agents for treating a pruritic condition include, but are not limited to, naltrexone; nalmefene; danazol; tricyclics such as amitriptyline, imipramine, and doxepin; antidepressants such as those given below; menthol; camphor; phenol; pramoxine; capsaicin; tar; steroids; and antihistamines.

Examples of useful therapeutic agents for treating psychosis include, but are not limited to, phenothiazines such as chlorpromazine hydrochloride, mesoridazine besylate, and thoridazine hydrochloride; thioxanthenes such as chloroprothixene and thiothixene hydrochloride; clozapine; risperidone; olanzapine; quetiapine; quetiapine fumarate; haloperidol; haloperidol decanoate; loxapine succinate; molindone hydrochloride; pimozide; and ziprasidone.

Examples of useful therapeutic agents for treating ALS include, but are not limited to, baclofen, neurotrophic factors, riluzole, tizanidine, benzodiazepines such as clonazepan and dantrolene.

Examples of useful therapeutic agents for treating cognitive disorders include, but are not limited to, agents for treating dementia such as tacrine; donepezil; ibuprofen; antipsychotic drugs such as thioridazine and haloperidol; and antidepressant drugs such as those given below.

Examples of useful therapeutic agents for treating a migraine include, but are not limited to, sumatriptan; methysergide; ergotamine; caffeine; and beta-blockers such as propranolol, verapamil, and divalproex.

Examples of useful therapeutic agents for treating vomiting include, but are not limited to, 5-HT3 receptor antagonists such as ondansetron, dolasetron, granisetron, and tropisetron; dopamine receptor antagonists such as prochlorperazine, thiethylperazine, chlorpromazine, metoclopramide, and domperidone; glucocorticoids such as dexamethasone; and benzodiazepines such as lorazepam and alprazolam.

Examples of useful therapeutic agents for treating dyskinesia include, but are not limited to, reserpine and tetrabenazine.

Examples of useful therapeutic agents for treating depression include, but are not limited to, tricyclic antidepressants such as amitryptyline, amoxapine, bupropion, clomipramine, desipramine, doxepin, imipramine, maprotiline, nefazadone, nortriptyline, protriptyline, trazodone, trimipramine, and venlafaxine; selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors such as citalopram, (S)-citalopram, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, paroxetine, and setraline; monoamine oxidase inhibitors such as isocarboxazid, pargyline, phenelzine, and tranylcypromine; and psychostimulants such as dextroamphetamine and methylphenidate.

A pharmaceutical composition of the present invention is preferably manufactured in a manner which itself will be known in view of the instant disclosure, for example, by means of conventional mixing, granulating, dragee-making, dissolving, extrusion, or lyophilizing processes. Thus, pharmaceutical compositions for oral use can be obtained by combining the active compound with solid excipients, optionally grinding the resulting mixture and processing the mixture of granules, after adding suitable auxiliaries, if desired or necessary, to obtain tablets or dragee cores.

Suitable excipients include fillers such as saccharides (for example, lactose, sucrose, mannitol or sorbitol), cellulose preparations, calcium phosphates (for example, tricalcium phosphate or calcium hydrogen phosphate), as well as binders such as starch paste (using, for example, maize starch, wheat starch, rice starch, or potato starch), gelatin, tragacanth, methyl cellulose, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, sodium carboxymethylcellulose, and/or polyvinyl pyrrolidone. If desired, one or more disintegrating agents can be added, such as the above-mentioned starches and also carboxymethyl-starch, cross-linked polyvinyl pyrrolidone, agar, or alginic acid or a salt thereof, such as sodium alginate.

Auxiliaries are typically flow-regulating agents and lubricants such as, for example, silica, talc, stearic acid or salts thereof (e.g., magnesium stearate or calcium stearate), and polyethylene glycol. Dragee cores are provided with suitable coatings that are resistant to gastric juices. For this purpose, concentrated saccharide solutions can be used, which may optionally contain gum arabic, talc, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, polyethylene glycol and/or titanium dioxide, lacquer solutions and suitable organic solvents or solvent mixtures. In order to produce coatings resistant to gastric juices, solutions of suitable cellulose preparations such as acetylcellulose phthalate or hydroxypropymethyl-cellulose phthalate can be used. Dye stuffs or pigments can be added to the tablets or dragee coatings, for example, for identification or in order to characterize combinations of active compound doses.

Examples of other pharmaceutical preparations that can be used orally include push-fit capsules made of gelatin, or soft, sealed capsules made of gelatin and a plasticizer such as glycerol or sorbitol. The push-fit capsules can contain a compound in the form of granules, which can be mixed with fillers such as lactose, binders such as starches, and/or lubricants such as talc or magnesium stearate and, optionally, stabilizers, or in the form of extruded multiparticulates. In soft capsules, the active compounds are preferably dissolved or suspended in suitable liquids, such as fatty oils or liquid paraffin. In addition, stabilizers can be added.

Possible pharmaceutical preparations for rectal administration include, for example, suppositories, which consist of a combination of one or more active compounds with a suppository base. Suitable suppository bases include natural and synthetic triglycerides, and paraffin hydrocarbons, among others. It is also possible to use gelatin rectal capsules consisting of a combination of active compound with a base material such as, for example, a liquid triglyceride, polyethylene glycol, or paraffin hydrocarbon.

Suitable formulations for parenteral administration include aqueous solutions of the active compound in a water-soluble form such as, for example, a water-soluble salt, alkaline solution, or acidic solution. Alternatively, a suspension of the active compound can be prepared as an oily suspension. Suitable lipophilic solvents or vehicles for such as suspension may include fatty oils (for example, sesame oil), synthetic fatty acid esters (for example, ethyl oleate), triglycerides, or a polyethylene glycol such as polyethylene glycol-400 (PEG-400). An aqueous suspension may contain one or more substances to increase the viscosity of the suspension, including, for example, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, sorbitol, and/or dextran. The suspension may optionally contain stabilizers.

The following examples are illustrative, but not limiting, of the compounds, compositions and methods of the present invention. Suitable modifications and adaptations of the variety of conditions and parameters normally encountered in clinical therapy and which are obvious to those skilled in the art in view of this disclosure are within the spirit and scope of the invention.

EXAMPLES Example 1 Synthesis of (R)-1-(6-(4-(4-fluorophenoxy)phenyl)pyridin-2-yl)-2,3-dihydroxypropan-1-one (Compound 1)

A solution of the 2,6-dibromopyridine (2.370 g, 10.00 mmol) in Et₂O (50 mL) was prepared and kept under a nitrogen atmosphere. The mixture was cooled using a dry ice-acetone bath and 1.6 M nBuLi in hexanes solution (6.90 mL, 11.0 mmol) was added dropwise over approximately 4 minutes. After stirring for approximately 20 minutes, a solution of (R)-methyl 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolane-4-carboxylate (1.765 g, 11.02 mmol) in Et₂O (5 mL) was added dropwise over approximately 2.5 minutes. After 4 hours over the dry ice-acetone bath, the reaction was quenched with 40 mL saturated NH₄Cl solution and warmed up to ambient temperature. The reaction mixture was diluted with 50 mL Et₂O, and the organic layer isolated, washed once with 25 mL brine, dried over MgSO4, filtered, and evaporated in vacuo to a residue. The residue was chromatographed over silica gel with 0-40% EtOAc in hexanes. The product fractions were isolated and evaporated in vacuo to give (R)-(6-bromopyridin-2-yl)(2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolan-4-yl)methanone as a pale yellow oil (1.949 g, 6.81 mmol, 68% yield). LC/MS: m/z=308.2 [M+Na]⁺.

To a mixture of (R)-(6-bromopyridin-2-yl)(2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolan-4-yl)methanone (0.574 g, 2.01 mmol) in dioxane (10 mL) was added 2-(4-(4-fluorophenoxy)phenyl)-4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolane (0.691 g, 2.20 mmol), 2M aqueous Na₂CO₃ (2.0 mL, 4.0 mmol), and PdCl₂(dppf) (0.086 g, 0.11 mmol). The reaction vessel was flushed with argon, sealed, and heated at 100° C. for 3 hours. After cooling, the reaction mixture was evaporated in vacuo and the residue chromatographed over silica gel with 5-40% EtOAc in hexanes. The product fractions were evaporated in vacuo to give (R)-(2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolan-4-yl)(6-(4-(4-fluorophenoxy)phenyl)pyridin-2-yl)methanone as a very pale tan thick oil (0.621 g, 1.58 mmol, 79% yield). LC/MS: m/z=394.2 [M+H]⁺.

To a solution of (R)-(2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolan-4-yl)(6-(4-(4-fluorophenoxy)phenyl)pyridin-2-yl)methanone (0.621 g, 1.58 mmol) in an 85:15 mixture of DCM/MeOH (10 mL) was added 4M HCl in dioxane (2 mL, 8 mmol). After stirring overnight 0.5 mL, water was added to the reaction. After 3 more hours the reaction was diluted with 50 mL DCM and solid NaHCO₃ was added. After the bubbling subsided, the reaction mixture was dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered, and evaporated in vacuo to a residue. The residue was chromatographed over silica gel with 10-75% acetone in hexanes. The product fractions were isolated and evaporated in vacuo. The residue was dissolved in acetone, evaporated in vacuo, dissolved in EtOAc and hexanes, evaporated in vacuo, treated with hexanes, and evaporated in vacuo. The material was dried under vacuum at 50° C. to give the product (R)-1-(6-(4-(4-fluorophenoxy)phenyl)pyridin-2-yl)-2,3-dihydroxypropan-1-one as a glassy orange solid (0.155 g, 0.44 mmol, 28% yield). LC/MS: m/z=354.1 [M+H]+; ¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆): 8.23-8.17 (3H, m), 8.08 (1H, t, J=7.9 Hz), 7.88 (1H, dd, J=7.7 Hz, 0.9 Hz), 7.32-7.25 (2H, m), 7.20-7.15 (2H, m), 7.12 (2H, d, J=9.0 Hz), 5.54-5.49 (1H, m), 5.09 (1H, d, J=7.0 Hz), 4.78 (1H, t, J=5.5 Hz), 3.93-3.81 (2H, m). Unless otherwise indicated all ¹H NMR chemical shifts reported herein are denoted by the delta (δ) scale.

The following compounds were prepared similarly:

(R)-4-(4-(6-(2,3-dihydroxypropanoyl)pyridin-2-yl)phenoxy)-2-(trifluoromethyl)benzonitrile (Compound 2): LC/MS: m/z=429.3 [M+H]+; ¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆): 8.42-8.28 (3H, m), 8.28-8.10 (2H, m), 8.00-7.90 (1H, m), 7.70-7.62 (1H, m), 7.50-7.32 (3H, m), 5.54-5.49 (1H, m), 5.15-5.09 (1H, m), 4.82-4.78 (1H, m), 3.93-3.81 (2H, m).

(R)-5-(4-(6-(2,3-dihydroxypropanoyl)pyridin-2-yl)phenoxy)-2-(trifluoromethyl)benzonitrile (Compound 3): LC/MS: m/z=429.3 [M+H]+; ¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆): 8.38-8.28 (3H, m), 8.18-8.10 (1H, m), 8.10-7.88 (3H, m), 7.55-7.47 (1H, m), 7.41-7.32 (2H, m), 5.57-5.50 (1H, m), 5.12-5.00 (1H, m), 4.82-4.78 (1H, m), 3.93-3.81 (2H, m).

(R)-2,3-dihydroxy-1-(6-(4-(4-(trifluoromethyl)phenoxy)phenyl)pyridin-2-yl)propan-1-one (Compound 4): LC/MS: m/z=404.3 [M+H]⁺; ¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆): 8.37-8.22 (3H, m), 8.20-8.05 (1H, m), 7.95-7.85 (1H, m), 7.85-7.72 (2H, m), 7.38-7.17 (4H, m), 5.57-5.50 (1H, m), 5.15-5.05 (1H, m), 4.82-4.78 (1H, m), 3.93-3.81 (2H, m).

(R)-4-(4-(6-(2,3-dihydroxypropanoyl)pyridin-2-yl)phenoxy)benzonitrile (Compound 5): LC/MS: m/z=361.3 [M+H]+; ¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆): 8.35-8.22 (3H, m), 8.17-8.08 (1H, m), 7.95-7.85 (3H, m), 7.35-7.25 (2H, m), 7.25-7.17 (2H, m), 5.57-5.51 (1H, m), 5.17-5.06 (1H, m), 4.82-4.77 (1H, m), 3.93-3.82 (2H, m).

Example 2 Synthesis of 2-(6-(4-(3-cyano-4-(trifluoromethyl)phenoxy)phenyl)pyridin-2-yl)-2-hydroxyacetamide (Cpd. No. 6)

Trimethylsilyl cyanide (1.5 mL, 10.7 mmol) was added to a suspension of 6-bromopicolinaldehyde (1.0 g, 21.5 mmol, Accela Chembio), and ZnI₂ (1.7 g, 21.5 mmol) in 45 mL of DCM at RT over 10 min. The mixture was stirred at room temperature over night. The solvent was removed under vacuum, and the residue was suspended in 10 mL of MeOH and 1 mL of 10 N H₂SO₄ was added. The mixture was stirred at room temperature for 1 h, then at 50° C. for 24 h. The reaction mixture was cooled with ice-water, and quenched with water (20 mL) and CHCl₃ (100 mL) and taken to pH˜9 with NH₄OH (30% aq). The organic layer was washed with brine, concentrated and purified by chromatographed over silica gel with 30% EtOAc in hexanes to give methyl 2-(6-bromopyridin-2-yl)-2-hydroxyacetate as a yellow oil (0.5 g, 38%). LC/MS: m/z=246.0/248.0 [M+H]⁺.

A mixture of methyl 2-(6-bromopyridin-2-yl)-2-hydroxyacetate (0.5 g, 2.03 mmol), NH₄Cl (0.1 g) and NH₃ (4N in MeOH) was shaken at room temperature over night. The solvent was removed under vacuum then added water (5 mL) and CHCl₃ (20 mL) The organic layer was concentrated and purified by chromatographed over silica gel with 50% EtOAc in hexanes to yield 2-(6-bromopyridin-2-yl)-2-hydroxyacetamide as a yellow solid (0.2 g, 16%). ¹H NMR (600 MHz, DMSO-d₆) 7.77 (1H, dd, J=7.8 & 8.4 Hz), 7.58 (1H, d, J=8.4 Hz), 7.51-7.52 (2H, m), 7.35 (1H, s), 6.23 (1H, d, J=0.5 Hz, —OH), 4.91 (1H, d, J=0.6 Hz).

A mixture of 3-cyano-4-trifluoromethyl-1-fluorobenzene (70 g, 0.37 mol, Oakwood), 4-hydroxyphenylboronic acid (50 g, 0.36 mol, Boron Molecular), K₂CO₃ (70 g) and DMF/water (400 mL/40 mL) was heated to 100° C. for 3 h. After cooling to RT, the mixture was diluted with water (1 L) and extracted with EtOAc (1.5 L). The organic layer was washed with water (0.5 L) and brine, concentrated and purified by chromatographed over silica gel with 4% MeOH in chloroform to give (4-(3-cyano-4-(trifluoromethyl)phenoxy)phenyl)boronic acid as pink solid (50 g, 45%). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CD₃OD) 7.70-7.70 (3H, m), 7.35 (1H, d, J=2.4 Hz), 7.24 (1H, dd, J=2.2 & 8.8 Hz), 7.00 (2H, d, J=7.7 Hz). [1,1′-Bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene]dichloropalladium(II) (17 mg, 0.022 mmol, Aldrich) was added to a mixture of 2-(6-bromopyridin-2-yl)-2-hydroxyacetamide (50 mg, 0.22 mmol), (4-(3-cyano-4-(trifluoromethyl)phenoxy)phenyl)boronic acid (100 mg, 0.32 mmol) and cesium carbonate (140 mg, 0.43 mmol) in EtOH/DME/water (2 mL/2 mL/mL) at room temperature. The reaction mixture was flushed with argon, then, shaken at 90° C. for 3 h. After cooling to RT, the reaction was quenched with water (2 mL), and extracted with EtOAc (10 mL). The organic layer was separated, concentrated and purified by reverse-phase prep HPLC (C18, 0-100% 0.1% TFA in water/0.1% TFA in ACN) to give 2-(6-(4-(3-cyano-4-(trifluoromethyl)phenoxy)phenyl)pyridin-2-yl)-2-hydroxyacetamide (Cpd. No. 6) as off-white solid (45 mg, 50%). LC/MS: m/z=414.1 [M+H]⁺; ¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆) 8.15 (2H, d, J=8.4 Hz), 7.93 (1H, d, J=9.2 Hz), 7.82-7.86 (3H, m), 7.37-7.45 (3H, m), 7.26 (2H, d, J=9.2 Hz), 4.95 (1H, s).

Example 3

Representative compounds of the invention have been tested in the FLIPR® or FLIPR^(TETRA)® sodium dye assay with KCl assay for sodium channel blocking activity, which is described in detail above. Representative values are presented in TABLE 4.

TABLE 4 Evaluation of compounds as sodium channel (Na_(v)) blockers Compound Na_(v)1.7 Activity (μM) Example FLIPR assay No. IC₅₀ (μM) ± SEM 1 0.133 ± 0.005 2 0.365 ± 0.065 3 0.402 ± 0.096 4 0.136 ± 0.016 5 0.149 ± 0.023 6 0.722 ± 0.053

Having now fully described this invention, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the same can be performed within a wide and equivalent range of conditions, formulations and other parameters without affecting the scope of the invention or any embodiment thereof.

Other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope and spirit of the invention being indicated by the following claims.

All patents and publications cited herein are fully incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A compound having Formula I:

wherein: A¹ is phenyl or 5 or 6-membered heteroaryl, wherein said phenyl or said 5- or 6-membered heteroaryl is either unsubstituted or substituted by one to four substituents independently selected from the group consisting of halo, nitro, cyano, hydroxy, amino, alkylamino, dialkylamino, haloalkyl, monohydroxyalkyl, dihydroxyalkyl, alkoxy, haloalkoxy, aryloxy, aralkyloxy, alkylthio, carboxamido, sulfonamido, alkylcarbonyl, arylcarbonyl, alkylsulfonyl, arylsulfonyl, ureido, guanidino, carboxy, carboxyalkyl, alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heterocyclo, alkoxyalkyl, (amino)alkyl, hydroxyalkylamino, (alkylamino)alkyl, (dialkylamino)alkyl, (cyano)alkyl, (carboxamido)alkyl, mercaptoalkyl, (heterocyclo)alkyl, and (heteroaryl)alkyl; X is —O—; A² is selected from the group consisting of C₄₋₈ cycloalkyl, C₄₋₈ cycloalkenyl, phenyl, 4- to 12-membered heterocyclo, and 5- or 6-membered heteroaryl; Z is selected from the group consisting of N and CR^(2c); R¹ is selected from the group consisting of:

R^(2a), R^(2b), and R^(2c), which can be identical or different, are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halo, nitro, cyano, hydroxy, amino, alkylamino, dialkylamino, haloalkyl, monohydroxyalkyl, dihydroxyalkyl, alkoxy, haloalkoxy, aryloxy, aralkyloxy, alkylthio, carboxamido, sulfonamido, alkylcarbonyl, arylcarbonyl, alkylsulfonyl, arylsulfonyl, ureido, guanidino, carboxy, carboxyalkyl, alkyl, (amino)alkyl, and (diamino)alkyl; and R³ is dihydroxyalkyl; R⁴ is selected from the group consisting of —NR^(6a)R^(6b) and —OR⁷; R^(6a) and R^(6b) are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, alkylsulfonyl, alkylsulfinyl, alkylcarbonyl, alkoxycarbonyl, monohydroxyalkyl, dihydroxyalkyl, alkoxyalkyl, haloalkyl, haloalkoxyalkyl, aminoalkyl, alkylaminoalkyl, dialkylaminoalkyl, hydroxy, haloalkylcarbonyl, and arylcarbonyl; or R^(6a) and R^(6b) taken together with the carbon atom to which they are attached form a 3- to 8-membered heterocyclo that is either unsubstituted or substituted by one to four substituents independently selected from the group consisting of halo, nitro, cyano, hydroxy, amino, alkylamino, dialkylamino, haloalkyl, monohydroxyalkyl, dihydroxyalkyl, alkoxy, haloalkoxy, aryloxy, aralkyloxy, alkylthio, carboxamido, sulfonamido, alkylcarbonyl, arylcarbonyl, alkylsulfonyl, arylsulfonyl, ureido, guanidino, carboxy, carboxyalkyl, alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heterocyclo, alkoxyalkyl, (amino)alkyl, hydroxyalkylamino, (alkylamino)alkyl, (dialkylamino)alkyl, (cyano)alkyl, (carboxamido)alkyl, mercaptoalkyl, (heterocyclo)alkyl, and (heteroaryl)alkyl; R⁷ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, monohydroxyalkyl, dihydroxyalkyl, alkoxyalkyl, haloalkyl, haloalkoxyalkyl, aminoalkyl, alkylaminoalkyl, and dialkylaminoalkyl; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof.
 2. The compound of claim 1 having Formula II:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof.
 3. The compound of claim 1 having Formula III:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof.
 4. The compound of claim 1 having Formula IV:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof.
 5. The compound of claim 1 having Formula V:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof.
 6. The compound of claim 2, wherein R³ is selected from the group consisting of:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof.
 7. The compound of claim 1, wherein R⁴ is —NR^(6a)R^(6b), and R^(6a) and R^(6b) are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and alkyl, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof.
 8. The compound of claim 1, wherein A¹ selected from the group consisting of phenyl, 2 pyridyl, 3 pyridyl, and 4 pyridyl, each of which is either unsubstituted or substituted by one to four substituents independently selected from the group consisting of halo, cyano, haloalkyl, and C₁₋₄ alkyl, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof.
 9. The compound of claim 1, wherein A¹-X-A²- is:

wherein R^(8a), R^(8b), R^(8c), R^(8d), and R^(8e), which can be identical or different, are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halo, cyano, haloalkyl, and C₁₋₄ alkyl, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof.
 10. The compound of claim 9, wherein one or two of R^(8a), R^(8b), R^(8c), R^(8d), and R^(8e) are halo or haloalkyl, and the others are hydrogen, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof.
 11. The compound of claim 1, wherein A¹-X-A²- is:

wherein R^(8f), R^(8g), and R^(8h), which can be identical or different, are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halo, cyano, haloalkyl, and C₁₋₄ alkyl, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof.
 12. The compound of claim 11, wherein one of R^(8f), R^(8g), and R^(80h), are halo or haloalkyl, and the others are hydrogen, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof.
 13. The compound of claim 1, wherein Z is N, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof.
 14. The compound of claim 1, wherein Z is CR^(2c), and R^(2c) is hydrogen, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof.
 15. The compound of claim 1, wherein said compound is selected from the group consisting of

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof.
 16. A pharmaceutical composition comprising the compound of claim 1, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
 17. A method for treating pain in a mammal, comprising administering an effective amount of a compound as claimed in claim 1, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof, to a mammal in need of such treatment.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein said pain is selected from the group consisting of chronic pain, inflammatory pain, neuropathic pain, acute pain, and surgical pain.
 19. A method of modulating sodium channels in a mammal, comprising administering to the mammal at least one compound as claimed in claim
 1. 20. The method of claim 19, wherein Nav1.7 sodium channel is modulated. 